[Gamma delta T cells in peripheral blood and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis].

We measured levels of gamma delta T cells in peripheral blood and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with sarcoidosis, from patients with pulmonary fibrosis, and from normal subjects. In blood from both groups of patients, the percentage of lymphocytes was significantly greater than normal. The number of CD3+ cells per cubic millimeter was significantly lower than normal in patients with sarcoidosis, and tendency to be lower than normal in patients with pulmonary fibrosis. The percentage of CD3+ cells tended to be low, but there was no significant difference. The percentage and number of gamma delta T cells in patients with sarcoidosis, and the number of gamma delta T cells in patients with pulmonary fibrosis tended to be high. In bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, the percentage of lymphocyte was significantly higher than normal, and the numbers of CD3+ cells and gamma delta T cells per cubic millimeter tended to be high. In both groups of patients, cell counts of lymphocytes were significantly higher than normal. Numbers of CD3+ cells and of gamma delta T cells were significantly higher than normal in patients with sarcoidosis, and tended to be higher than normal in those with pulmonary fibrosis. These findings indicate local activation of gamma delta T cell function, recruitment of these cells into the bronchoalveolar system, and augmentation of gamma delta T cell supply in the whole body, especially in patients with sarcoidosis. In patients with pulmonary fibrosis the results were inconclusive; they were not as striking as were the results in patients with sarcoidosis.