QUANTITATIVE VARIATION OF CD29+T LYMPHOCYTES AND NK CELLS IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN COMPARISON WITH HEALTHY ONES.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inflammatory disease. The cause is yet unknown. It is possible that in causing the disease immunological responses be involved. The aim of this study was to compare CD29+T lymphocytes and NK cells in rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy people. Materials & Methods: In this study twenty five patients being affected with rheumatoid arthritis (examined group) and twenty five healthy people (control group) were examined. Peripheral blood samples were taken from both groups, after lysing of red cells, labeled with antibodies against T lymphocyte (CD3), very late activation antigen (CD29), and NK cell (CD56). Then percentage of the cells was assessed by flow cytometry technique. The data from two groups were compared and analyzed by T-test. Results: There was a significant difference among the average population of CD29+ and NK cells in examined and control groups (p <0.5). The numbers of CD3+ T lymphocytes and CD29+ T lymphocytes in control and examined groups were not significantly different. Conclusion: It seems that increase and activation of CD29+ lymphocytes and NK cells affect the process of the disease and its intensity in cartilage damage and bone erosions, probability via the production of inflammatory cytokines.Further studies are required to clarify the role of T and NK cells with clinical manifestations and severity of disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis