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natural killer (NK) cell activity, as measured against K-562 target cells, was evaluated in 23 untreated and in 11 bromocriptine-treated hyperprolactinemia female patients and in 63 age-matched healthy women using 51Cr-release assay. The NK cell activity was significantly reduced in untreated hyperprolactinemia patients with respect to that of normal subjects, but therapy with bromocriptine restored NK cell function of patients to the levels of normal controls. Moreover, a reduced number of Leu-7+ cells and of large granular lymphocytes in hyperprolactinemia patients, as compared to normal controls and bromocriptine-treated subjects, correlated well with the decreased NK activity. Finally, 'in vitro' incubation with purified human prolactin, did not affect NK cell activity of blood mononuclear cells. The present results demonstrate that pathological hyperprolactinemia, in which a tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic defect has been postulated, is also associated with a reduction in NK cell number and function and indicate a possible interaction between prolactin, neuroendocrine system and NK cell lineage in man. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double-labelling immunofluorescence analysis within the CD4+ cell subset was carried out in 27 bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and 11 peripheral blood samples of sarcoidosis patients with anti-TQI, anti-2H4 and anti-4B4 monoclonal antibodies. Helper/inducer CD4+TQI- /4B4+ cells were strongly increased in the lung and slightly, but significantly, decreased in the blood of sarcoidosis patients with respect to normal controls. No differences were found in the number of both lung and blood CD4+2H4+ cells between sarcoidosis patients and controls. The findings are further evidence for a compartmentalization of T cell subsets in sarcoidosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]