Studies on alveolar lymphocyte proliferation induced by Propionibacterium acnes in sarcoidosis Part 1. Specificity of alveolar lymphocyte response to Propionibacterium acnes in sarcoidosis

The fact that alveolar lymphocytes in patients with active sarcoidosis are sensitized by Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) was previously reported by our group. Therefore, the responses of alveolar lymphocytes induced by Nocardia rubra and Streptococcus pyogenes were investigated and compared to those of P. acnes. The mean response rate of alveolar lymphocytes to P. acnes was significantly enhanced (1.89±1.45) in 12 untreated sarcoidosis patients compared with the response rates to Nocardia rubra (0.87±0.47) and Streptococcus pyogenes (0.64±0.30). Peripheral lymphocytes did not respond to any cell wall components of these organisms. Our findings indicate that alveolar lymphocytes in sarcoidosis are specifically sensitized by P. acnes, and suggest that P.acnes plays an important role in the induction of alveolar lymphocytes in sarcoidosis.

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