[Analysis of the T cell receptor Vdelta region gene repertoire in asthmatic subjects].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the role of gammadelta T cells in the asthmatic airway inflammation and identify the forces which induce and maintain the inflammatory process.


METHODS
Peripheral blood (PB) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were obtained from seven asthmatic subjects and seven nonsmoking control subjects. The percentage of gammadelta T cells in PB and BALF were measured by immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometry, the frequency of usage and the clonality of Vdelta subfamilies (Vdelta(1) approximately Vdelta(3)) were assessed by RT-PCR and gene scanning.


RESULTS
Higher proportion of gammadelta T cell was detected in the BALF of asthmatic subjects [(7.8 +/- 4.7)%] than that from control subjects [(3.3 +/- 3.0)%] (P < 0.05) and the relative expression level of Vdelta(1) significantly higher in the asthmatic airway [(44 +/- 13)%] than in the control group [(19 +/- 5)%] (P = 0.002). In asthmatic subjects, the monoclonal or oligoclonal expansion of gammadelta T lymphocytes was predominant in BALF, especially Vdelta(1) T lymphocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
Antigenic specific gammadelta T cells might play important roles in the inducement and maintenance of airway inflammation.
Bai
Y
Y
Department of Respiratory Disease, Peking Union Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
Lin
Y
Y
He
W
W
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D007073:Immunoglobulin E