CD34+ progenitor cells in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

UNLABELLED: Sarcoidosis is a disease of unclear etiology, immunopathogenesis complex and diverse clinical course.

AIM: The aim of study was to evaluate the usefulness of CD34+ cells, CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes in peripheral blood for the diagnosis and better understanding of the sarcoidosis pathogenesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 40 patients (16 women and 24 men) aged 29-71 years (mean 45 years) with newly diagnosed pulmonary sarcoidosis. The control group consisted of 30 healthy subjects (18 women and 12 men) aged 24-65 years (mean 47 years). Tests were performed in peripheral blood, and lymphocytes CD4 and CD8 and progenitor CD34+ cells surface antigens were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: It has been shown that number of CD34+ progenitor cells in peripheral blood was significantly higher in patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary sarcoidosis and showed a positive correlation with CD4/ CD8 rate.

CONCLUSIONS: CD34+ progenitor cells may be important in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. It is necessary to conduct further studies that identify heterogenous population of CD34+ cells with particular focus on fibrocytes.