Does adaptive T cell immunity have any role in the pathophysiology and histopathology of Buerger s disease?

Buerger s disease is a clot forming vasculitis which can lead to severe complications such as amputation of extremities. It is more prevalent in young male smokers and has a higher occurrence in eastern regions of the globe. The risk factors which raise the susceptibility to this condition include infection, tobacco consumption, and genetic factors. It is also hypothesized that the LPS of oral commensal bacteria can lead to various immune reactions that are seen in this disease. Several pathways have been proposed to be responsible for this disease, and the main pathways are through the innate and adaptive immune systems. One of the controversial aspects of the pathophysiology of this disease is its relation to the T cell immunity; histopathology findings have shown T cell infiltration in the arterial wall. In this literature review, our aim was to review the articles published in relation to Buerger’s disease, and the conclusion was that the T cell adaptive immunity might have a fundamental role in the disease pathophysiology, however, further investigation is needed.