T-cell subsets in cutaneous sarcoidosis

Abstract

Skin lesions from 4 patients with systemic and cutaneous sarcoidosis were studied, by the use of monoclonal antibodies, for the presence of T cells and T-cell subsets. Large numbers of lymphoid cells reacting with anti-pan T-cell (LEU-1) and anti-helper and inducer subset (LEU-3) monoclonal antibodies were observed around and within the sarcoid granulomas in 3 of the 4 patients. Only rare LEU-2-reactive suppressor cells were observed in all 4 patients. Activated T lymphocytes with focal acid phosphatase activity, together with epithelioid cells and multinucleated giant cells with strong diffuse activity of acid phosphatase and nonspecific esterase, were identified within the granulomas. The 2 patients with active disease demonstrated substantially more T cells in the sarcoid granulomas than did the 2 patients with chronic disease. Study results suggest the importance of helper T cells in the formation of the sarcoid granuloma by mononuclear phagocytes and imply that the activity and duration of disease may be related to the T-cell populations.