Coexpression of CD4 and CD8 on mitogen-activated peripheral blood T cells from children with asthma: possible involvement of interleukin 4.
Mononuclear cells were isolated from the peripheral blood of 28 asthmatic and 18 healthy children aged 3 to 16 years. The cells were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin for 96 hours. Activated cells were detected microscopically by MTT staining. Expression of cell surface antigens was detected by indirect immune fluorescence using CD4-specific and CD8-specific monoclonal antibodies. Results indicate an enhanced expression of CD8 on mitogen-activated T cells from asthmatic children compared with cells from healthy controls (median 43% versus 27%). Further experiments revealed that CD8 is coexpressed with CD4 on activated lymphocytes. Coexpression is significantly enhanced with lymphocytes from asthmatic patients compared with normal controls. In addition, interleukin 4 is able to enhance this coexpression with lymphocytes from healthy but not asthmatic children suggesting an in vivo preactivation of lymphocytes from asthmatic patients with interleukin 4.
Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
U
U
Schauer
I
I
Kohl
R
R
Jäger
H
H
Becker
C H
CH
Rieger
D000293:Adolescent; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D015847:Interleukin-4