Phenotypic and functional properties of gd T cells from patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

In this study we have examined the phenotypic and functional properties of circulating γδ T cells in patients with Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS), in normal healthy controls, and in patients with active multiple sclerosis (MS). Cells expressing the Vδ2 T cell receptor showed elevated expression of the C-lectin receptor NKRP1A in both GBS and MS, suggestive of an activated state. However, in patients with GBS these cells failed to respond to pyrenil-pyrophosphate derivatives and Vδ2+ T cell clones derived from these patients released lower levels of IFNγ than Vδ2+ clones derived from controls and MS patients. In contrast, in patients with GBS the Vδ1+ subset was expanded, showed elevated expression of NKRP1A and Vδ1+ clones derived from these patients secreted high levels of IL-4. Our findings of expanded NKRP-1A+, IL-4-producing Vδ1 T cells in the GBS patients suggests the possibility that these cells are activated by the recognition of non-protein antigens in an MHC-unrestricted manner...