RESUMO
To study the role of T-lymphocytes in the patients with alveolitis due to interstitial lung disease (ILD), we have examined T cell populations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and peripheral blood (PB) of ten patients with ILD and six normal-controls via flow cytometry. The percentages of T-lymphocytes bearing the activation markers of HLA-DR (p < 0.01) and CD25 (p < 0.05) were significantly higher in BAL of ILD patients. There was no correlation between T lymphocytes subtypes and pulmonary functions and diffusion capacity (p > 0.05). In PB of ILD patients had less CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD19 cells (B lymphocytes) than controls (p < 0.05). This increased T-lymphocyte activation in BAL in contrast to PB suggested to have a role in the pathogenesis of the lung involvement in ILD.