Do the molecules CD26 and lymphocytes activation gene-3 differentiate between type 1 and 2 T cell response?
BACKGROUND
The Th1/Th2 paradigm is considered to be responsible for the development of many immunological disorders, including atopic diseases and diabetes mellitus type 1. So far, however, no unequivocal markers identifying the two subpopulations of T cells have been found.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the expression of two putative markers of Th1-mediated disorders, CD26 and lymphocytes activation gene-3 molecules, on CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of atopic and diabetic donors.


METHODS
11 patients (9 males/2 females, age range: 21-29, median age: 23) suffering from episodic atopic bronchial asthma (AO group) and 11 patients (9 males/2 females, age range: 33-47, median age: 42) with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DM group) were included into the study. Atopy was excluded in all diabetic patients. The following T cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry (FAC-Scan): CD8+CD26+, CD4+CD26+, CD4+LAG-3+, CD8+LAG-3+, and CD56+. Nonparametric tests were used for statistical analysis, and results were expressed as median and quartile range.


RESULTS
Among all analyzed T cell subsets, the number of CD4+LAG-3+ and CD8+LAG-3+ cells was significantly higher in the A0 group--8.3% (5.4-11.7) vs DM 5.4% (3.9-5.9), p < 0.05, and 13.3% (8.8-19) vs DM: 7.1% (6.2-8.3), p < 0.008, respectively. The ratio between CD4+/CD8+ subsets was similar in both groups: CD4+CD26+/CD8+CD26+--AO: 7.2 (5.3-10.1); DM: 6.4 (5.5-12.6), p = 0.77 and CD4+LAG-3+/CD8+LAG-3+--AO: 0.64 (0.58-0.67); DM: 0.71 (0.64-0.78), p = 0.082.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the two examined putative markers of type 1 T cells do not discriminate between Th1- and Th2-dominated responses.
Rogala
Barbara
B
Department and Clinic of Internal Medicine, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Zabrze, Poland. b_rogala@pro.onet.pl
Glück
Joanna
J
Mazur
Bogdan
B
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D000093322:Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 Protein
D015703:Antigens, CD; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4; D000093322:Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 Protein; C000720326:Lag3 protein, human