Determination of Anti-Anisakis Simplex Antibodies and Relationship with αß and γδ Lymphocyte Subpopulations in Patients with Crohn's Disease.

BACKGROUND: The etiology of Crohn's disease (CD) is still unknown although new theories are based on defects in innate immunity. We have previously shown a decrease in γδ T cells in CD patients. Previous studies have shown a high prevalence of anti-A. simplex immunoglobulins in CD patients. The diminution of γδ T cells in the peripheral blood and intestinal mucosa of CD patients may create a state of immunosuppression that would facilitate A. simplex infection. AIMS: To study the antibody responses to Anisakis antigens in Crohn's disease patients and its relationship with αß and γδ T cell subsets. METHODS: We recruited 81 CD patients and 81 healthy controls. αß and γδ T cell subsets and anti-A. simplex antibodies were measured. RESULTS: Levels of anti-A. simplex IgG and IgM were significantly increased in CD patients. Almost 20% of CD patients were positive for IgG and IgM anti-A. simplex versus only 3.7 and 2.5%, respectively, in normal subjects. However, lower specific IgA levels were observed in the group of CD patients versus healthy subjects. We found an association between CD3 + CD8 + Î³Î´ subset and IgM anti-A. simplex levels. In ileal cases and stricturing behavior of CD, we observed the highest levels of specific antibodies with the exception of anti-A. simplex IgA. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship of specific antibodies with a γδ T cell deficiency makes these cell candidates to play a role in the immune response against Anisakis. In addition, anti-Anisakis antibodies could be considered as markers of risk of progression in CD.

Values for αß and γδ T-lymphocytes and CD4+, CD8+, and CD56+ subsets in healthy adult subjects: assessment by age and gender.

BACKGROUND: Normal reference values in healthy subjects for T-lymphocytes for both types of receptors, αß and γδ, and their subsets are yet to be defined. The aim of this study was to measure peripheral blood αß and γδ total T-lymphocytes and their subsets in a population of healthy subjects, in order to obtain valid reference values for studies in human pathology. METHODS: We studied a total of 157 healthy subjects, 78 men and 79 women, establishing their levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD56+, αßCD3+, αßCD3+CD4+, αßCD3+CD8+, αßCD3+CD56+, γδCD3+, γδCD3+CD4-CD8-, γδCD3+CD8+, and γδCD3+CD56+ T-cells by flow cytometry. The T-cell subsets were compared for different age and gender groups. RESULTS: A significant decrease in CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD4+ αß, and CD3+ γδ T-cells was observed in elderly subjects. CD3+, CD3+ αß, and CD3+CD4+ αß T-cells increased in women, while CD3+CD56+ αß T-cells increased in men. CONCLUSIONS.: These reference values could be useful in further research studies for assessing changes that occur in the different αß and γδ T subsets in human pathology.