Down-regulation of IFN-gamma-producing CD56+ T cells after combined low-dose cyclosporine/prednisone treatment in patients with Behçet's uveitis.

CD8 high CD56 and CD56 T-cell subsets, were significantly higher in active Behcet's uveitis but normalized after treat- ment, whereas the total T-lymphocyte count and the absolute numbers of CD56 T cells were unaffected by treatment. The levels of IFN- and IL-4 were elevated in aqueous humor and serum in Behcet's uveitis (P 0.001), whereas IL-10 was not detected. After treatment, serum IL-4 levels markedly increased (P 0.001), and IFN- production by circulating CD56 T cells was then suppressed. IL-4 and -10 production by CD56 T cells was increased by treatment, but in contrast, minimal changes were found in CD56 T cells. CONCLUSIONS. The results imply that Cs/Pd treatment for Beh- c uveitis selectively affects the population of and the cyto- kine expression in CD56 T cells, but without significant changes in CD56 T cells, and that IFN--producing CD56 T cells are the central pathogenic immune cells in Behcet's uveitis. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005;46:2458 -2464) DOI: