Levels of soluble IL-2 receptor in plasma from asthmatics. Correlations with blood eosinophilia, lung function, and corticosteroid therapy.
Evidence now suggests that eosinophils and T lymphocytes infiltrating bronchial tissues may play a key role in the pathophysiology of asthma. Circulating eosinophils, lung function, and plasma soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were measured in 42 asthmatic patients referred for symptomatic asthma. The patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of atopy. The group of non-atopic asthmatics was further divided according to the patients' requirement for long term oral corticosteroids. The mean sIL-2R +/- s.d. was 36.3 +/- 9.9 pM in the control group, 28.9 +/- 9.2 pM in the atopic asthmatics, 43.3 +/- 18.07 pM in the non-atopic asthmatics without oral steroid therapy, but was increased in the steroid-treated group (62.2 +/- 19.3 pM, P less than 0.01). A significant correlation was found between FEV1 and circulating eosinophils in atopic asthmatics and in non-atopic asthmatics without oral corticosteroid therapy, but not in the steroid-treated group. Furthermore, significant correlations were found between sIL-2R and FEV1, and between sIL-2R and blood eosinophils, in the group of non-atopic asthmatics not on oral steroid therapy. No such correlations were evidenced in the other groups of asthmatics. Similar results were obtained during the clinical course of three non-atopic patients followed for more than 1 year. These data suggest that T cell activation appears more prominent in non-atopic asthma than in atopic asthma. Moreover, it appears that T cell activation can occur in severe forms of asthma despite steroid treatment. Finally, the results suggest a possible link between T cell activation, eosinophils, and lung function, which may reflect a particular pathogenetic mechanism involved in non-atopic asthma.
Lassalle
P
P
C.J.F. INSERM 90-06, Institut Pasteur, Lille, France.
Sergant
M
M
Delneste
Y
Y
Gosset
P
P
Wallaert
B
B
Zandecki
M
M
Capron
A
A
Joseph
M
M
Tonnel
A B
AB
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000502:physiology; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2