Figure 5.

Reduced expression of CD122 (interleukin-2 receptor β [IL-2Rβ]), perforin, and granzyme in bronchoalveolar lavage from Behçet’s disease patients. [A]: Percentages of CD3⁺CD122⁺ cells in BAL. [B] Percentages of IL-2Rβ–expressing cells in natural killer cells from 10 healthy controls 10 patients with BD, and 7 patients with rheumatoid arthritis . Freshly isolated BAL cells were stained with peridinin chlorophyll A protein–conjugated anti-CD3, fluorescein isothiocyanate–conjugated anti-CD56, and phycoerythrin-conjugated anti-CD122 monoclonal antibodies and then analyzed by flow cytometry. Data are shown as box plots. Each box represents the 25^th to 75^th percentiles. Lines inside the boxes represent the mean. Whiskers represent the 10^th and the 90^th percentiles. [C]: Expression of mRNA for CD122 (IL-2Rβ), perforin, and granzyme in BAL cells and purified NK cells from a healthy control subject and a patient with BD. Total RNA was extracted, reverse-transcribed, and amplified by polymerase chain reaction using primers specific for CD122, perforin, granzyme, and β-actin. PCR products were separated by electrophoresis on 1.0% agarose gels. [D]: Perforin expression in NK cells from a healthy control subject and a patient with BD, as determined by intracellular flow cytometry. Shaded regions represent anti-perforin monoclonal antibody (mAb); open regions represent isotype-matched control monoclonal antibody (mAb). Histograms show the CD3⁺CD56⁺ cell population. Results are representative of 3 independent experiments.