HEMOCHROMATOSIS AS A WINDOW INTO THE STUDY OF THE IMMUNOLOGICAL SYSTEM - A NOVEL CORRELATION BETWEEN CD8+ LYMPHOCYTES AND IRON OVERLOAD

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 1994

Authors

Graca Porto (Author) ICBAS; REIMAO, R (Author) Other; GONCALVES, C (Author) Other; Corália Vicente (Author) ICBAS; JUSTICA, B (Author) Other; DESOUSA, M (Author) Other

Journal

Title: European Journal of Haematology

Vol. 52

Pages: 283-290

ISSN: 0902-4441

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 59 Citations

Scopus - 55 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-K3G

Abstract (EN): In the present study we report a serial investigation of the numbers of the peripheral blood cells - erythrocytes, polymorphonuclear neutrophils, total lymphocytes, T-lymphocyte subpopulations (CD2, CD4, CD8), B lymphocytes and monocytes - in a group of 21 patients with haemochromatosis during the time of intensive phlebotomy treatment, i.e., from iron overload until the onset of iron deficiency. A remarkable individual stability of all blood cell populations studied was found in all patients. Patients differed in their relative proportions of CD4(+) and CD8(+). Each individual's CD4/CD8 ratio, as well as the absolute numbers, remained unaffected with time, confirming the existence of a strict homeostatic regulation of the relative numbers of the two major peripheral T lymphocytes. A significant positive correlation between CD4/CD8 ratios and the amount of iron mobilised by phlebotomy was found during this study. A novel correlation between the relative proportions of CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells and iron overload is confirmed by the follow-up of iron re-entry in the serum transferrin pool in the treated patients.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8