A study of T CD4, CD8 and B lymphocytes in narcoleptic patients

• Autor(a) principal: Coelho, Fernando Morgadinho Santos [UNIFESP]
• Data de Publicação: 2007
• Outros Autores: Pradella-Hallinan, Márcia Lurdes de Cássia [UNIFESP], Alves, Gabriela Rodrigues [UNIFESP], Bittencourt, Lia Rita Azeredo [UNIFESP], Pedrazzoli, Mario [UNIFESP], Moreira, Fábio [UNIFESP], Tufik, Sergio [UNIFESP]
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNIFESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0004-282X2007000300011; http://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/3718
• topic: narcolepsy; lymphocytes; immunology; HLA-DQB1*0602 allele; narcolepsia; linfócitos; imunologia; alelo HLA-DQB1*0602

Narcolepsy is characterized by excessive daytime sleep and cataplexy. Little is known about the possible difference in pathophysiology between patients with or without cataplexy. OBJECTIVE: To quantify T CD4, T CD8 and B lymphocytes in subgroups of patients with narcolepsy and the presence or absence of the HLA-DQB1*0602 allele between groups. METHOD: Our study was prospective and controlled (transversal) with 22 narcoleptic patients and 23 health control subjects. Patients underwent an all-night polysomnographic recording (PSG) and a multiple sleep latency Test (MSLT). The histocompatibility antigen allele (HLA-DQB1*0602), T CD4, CD8 and B lymphocytes were quantified in control subjects and in narcoleptics. RESULTS: The HLA-DQB1*0602 allele was identified in 10 (62.5%) of our 16 cataplexic subjects and in 2 (33.3%) of the 6 patients without cataplexy (p=0.24). In control subjects, HLA-DQB1*0602 allele was identified in 5 (20%). A significant decrease in T CD4 and B lymphocytes was found in narcoleptic patients with recurrent cataplexy when compared with our patients without cataplexy. CONCLUSION: Autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis were associated with a decrease in sub-group of T CD4 and B lymphocytes. A drop in B lymphocytes count in reumathoid arthritis might, it is posited, be correlated to the presence of HLA-DRB1 allele along with an overall worsened outcome of the affliction. The theory of an increase in consumption of B lymphocytes over the maturation phase has likewise been put forward. Our study reinforces the view that narcolepsy should be considered from an immunological perspective.