Asthma. Role of T-lymphocytes and lymphokines.
It is now widely accepted that bronchial mucosal inflammation is an important feature of the pathogenesis of asthma. Lymphocytes probably play a role in all inflammatory responses which are antigen driven, since they are the only cells which, through the CD3/antigen receptor complex, directly recognise and respond to processed antigens. Activated T-lymphocytes, through the release of lymphokines, have the capacity to control the amount and nature of inflammatory responses. Increasing evidence is accumulating that activated CD4 T-lymphocytes participate in the inflammatory reaction observed in the asthmatic bronchial mucosa, by secreting lymphokines which attract and activate eosinophils and mast cells. CD4 T-lymphocytes may be a potentially important target for glucocorticoid therapy in asthma. Further characterisation of the functional properties of these cells might allow a definition of asthma in terms of functional abnormalities at the cellular level, and may uncover variability in asthma pathogenesis according to its aetiology.
Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Heart and Lung Institute, London, UK.
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CJ
Corrigan
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Kay
D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000276:immunology*
D008222:Lymphokines; D007073:Immunoglobulin E