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01-08-2011 | UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH IMMUNOLOGY 2011

CD8⁺ T cells in systemic sclerosis

Author: Patrizia Fuschiotti

Published in: Immunologic Research | Issue 2-3/2011

Abstract

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a progressive and highly debilitating autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, and vascular damage of the connective tissue. T cell-derived cytokines have been implicated in the induction of fibrosis. We found that high levels of the profibrotic type-2 cytokine IL-13 are produced by peripheral blood effector CD8⁺ T cells from SSc patients compared to normal controls. This abnormality correlates with increased expression of the transcription factor GATA-3 and the extent of skin fibrosis. Together, the data provide new insights into SSc pathogenesis and identify a specific T cell phenotype that can be used as a biomarker of immune dysfunction in patients with SSc and as a novel therapeutic target for this currently incurable disease.

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Title: CD8+ T cells in systemic sclerosis
Author: Patrizia Fuschiotti
Publication date: 01-08-2011
Publisher: Humana Press Inc
Published in: Immunologic Research / Issue 2-3/2011
Print ISSN: 0257-277X
Electronic ISSN: 1559-0755
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-011-8222-1

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CD8⁺ T cells in systemic sclerosis

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