Summary
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an organ specific autoimmune disorder
in whichT-lymphocyte abnormalities have pathogenetic importance.In a DNA microarray
screen of CD3+ T-lymphocytes from ITP patients and healthy controls we found an altered
expression of genes associated with apoptosis, e.g. A20, caspase-8 and Bax.This together
with our previous findings of increased gene expression of Fas,interferon-g and IL-2
receptor beta (IL2RB) indicated an altered activation induced cell death (AICD) of
T-cells in ITP. Using a proliferation assay we found that CD3+ lymphocytes from ITP
patients were significantly more resistant to dexamethasone induced suppression compared
to normal lymphocytes.We also found that cultured CD3+ lymphocytes from ITP patients
in remission were more susceptible to apoptosis both in the presence and absence of
dexamethasone compared to cells from patient with active ITP and healthy controls,
as indicated by increased staining of AnnexinV binding. Our findings suggest that
apoptotic resistance of activated T-lymphocytes in patients with active ITP may lead
to defective clearance of autoreactive T-lymphocytes through AICD, which might cause
a continued immune destruction of platelets. Conversely, a loss of resistance to AICD
in ITP patients in remission might be an important mechanism for the achievement of
remission.
Keywords
Immune thrombocytopenia - T-cells - apoptosis - microarray - autoimmunity