BAL lymphocyte activation antigens and diffusing capacity are related in mild to moderate pulmonary sarcoidosis.
To investigate the relationship [corrected] between immunocytological features of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and clinical indices in sarcoidosis, we studied the lymphocyte subsets, as well as the expression of human leucocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) and interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) antigens in BAL lymphocytes. We studied 16 patients with untreated sarcoidosis and 12 control subjects. We found significantly higher absolute numbers of lymphocytes bearing the IL-2R antigen in sarcoidosis. A stronger difference between groups was observed in both the percentage and absolute numbers of HLA-DR+ lymphocytes. We also found a moderate but significant correlation between the number of lymphocytes expressing the activation antigens and single breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity in patients with sarcoidosis: DLCO vs HLA-DR+ lymphocytes (r = -0.60); DLCO vs IL-2R+ lymphocytes (r = -0.62); carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO vs HLA-DR+ lymphocytes (r = -0.53); and KCO vs IL-2R+ lymphocytes (r = -0.58). Our results suggest that the reduction in diffusing capacity, expressed as either DLCO or KCO, results from the severity of alveolitis in mild to moderate sarcoidosis.
Xaubet
A
A
Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital Clinic, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
Agustí
C
C
Roca
J
J
Picado
C
C
Rodriguez-Roisin
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2