Inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate downregulates CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte activation in peripheral blood of patients with asthma.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies demonstrated a downregulation of T-lymphocyte (CD3+ cells) activation in peripheral blood after treatment with inhaled corticosteroids in patients with asthma.


OBJECTIVE
This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte activation, respectively.


METHODS
We examined the expression of three surface activation markers (CD25, HLA-DR, and very late activation antigen 1) on circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets in subjects with asthma (n = 23) before and 8 weeks after treatment with inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate dry powder (daily dose, 800 microg).


RESULTS
Beclomethasone dipropionate treatment had a marked effect in reducing the expression of the activation marker CD25 (p < 0.01) in both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets in peripheral blood of patients with asthma. However, no correlation was found between the downregulation of CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte activation and the improvement in physiologic indices of disease activity.


CONCLUSIONS
These data add to the view that CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with asthma are in an activated state that is downregulated by inhaled corticosteroids.
Majori
M
M
Istituto di Clinica delle Malattie dell'Apparato Respiratorio dell'Università, Parma, Italy.
Piccoli
M L
ML
Bertacco
S
S
Cuomo
A
A
Cantini
L
L
Pesci
A
A
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D039222:Integrin alpha1beta1; D016023:Integrins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D039222:Integrin alpha1beta1; D016023:Integrins; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D001507:Beclomethasone