ABSTRACT
The immunological responses related to immunization are
closely linked to those contributing to the pathology of
sarcoidosis. Following vaccination the cellular responses to
antigen presentation via MHC class I molecules depend on
intact CD8 cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. In addition, antigen presentation via MHC class II molecules stimulates CD4 T-helper-1 lymphocytes, involved with cytotoxic and delayed
hypersensitivity responses as well as granuloma formation, and
CD4 T-helper-2 lymphocytes, which support the humoral response involving B-lymphocytes, leading to antibody pro-
duction. The amplification of regulatory T-cells in sarcoidosis,
which control the proliferation of CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes, is unable to completely inhibit the secretion of
factors involved with granuloma formation, but the associated
T regulatory/memory disequilibrium is a possible mechanism
for anergy in sarcoidosis, most commonly recognized as the
absence of a response to the tuberculin skin test (Miyara et al.
2006). Given the shared immunological pathways, the impact
of the disease on the ability of the host to react to foreign
antigens, and the persisting questions regarding the contribu-
tion of infection to the etiology of the disease, it is worth
exploring the relationship between immunization/vaccination
and sarcoidosis.
