[Cellular immunity in sarcoidosis].

The characteristics of the circulating lymphocytes of 24 patients suffering from sarcoidosis were studied. The surface markers and the in vitro lymphocytic activity, both spontaneous and after stimulation with PHA, were assessed. Each culture was carried out in both homologous and autologous plasma. The stimulating ability of the plasma of sarcoidosis patients on normal lymphocytes was also evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups, i.e. acute sarcoidosis and sarcoidosis in remission. From this study it can be stated that depression of T-dependent immunity is particularly evident in patients with active disease. This depression seems to be mainly due to the presence in the plasms of factors which inhibit the cellular immune response.