title: Intraepithelial dendritic cells and selective activation of Th2-like lymphocytes in patients with atopic asthma.
abstract: This study examines the distribution of intraepithelial dendritic cells in eight atopic patients with symptomatic asthma and their ability to induce activation of autologous T lymphocytes in vitro. All subjects were sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. The incubation of asthmatic epithelial cells and dendritic cells with autologous resting CD4-positive T cells and purified extracts of D pteronyssinus induced T cell activation and release of high levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-5 (IL-5). The antigen-presenting activity of dendritic cells was potentiated by epithelial cell-derived granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), since an antibody against GM-CSF reduced it. Circulating monocytes of the two groups of donors were equally effective in promoting selective activation of IL-4- and IL-5-producing T cells. Thus, an interaction between dendritic cells and allergens may favor local activation of CD4-positive T cells with Th2-like function in atopic asthmatic subjects, thereby promoting the expression of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Center for Respiratory and Allergic Diseases, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bellini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vittori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ackerman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mattoli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015848:Interleukin-5; D015847:Interleukin-4; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor