[A study of helper T cell (Th)1/Th2 immune response pattern of gammadeltaT cells in asthma].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the mode of immune responses of gammadeltaT cells in asthma and the role of gammadeltaT cell subsets in the pathogenesis of asthma.


METHODS
Wistar rats were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin to establish an asthmatic model (n = 10, for each group). "Attack-panning" method was used to culture selective gammadeltaT cells. The percentage of gammadelta T cells among cultured cells was determined by flow cytometry. The levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were measured by ELISA. The expression of IL-4 mRNA and IFN-gamma mRNA was determined by in situ hybridization.


RESULTS
In the asthmatic group, IL-4 and IFN-gamma were detectable at the same time in cultured supernatant of gammadeltaT cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or broncho-alveolar fluid (BALF), and the level of IL-4 [PBMC: (40.5 +/- 3.7) ng/L, BALF: (49.6 +/- 3.1) ng/L] increased as compared with the control group [PBMC: (26.1 +/- 2.1) ng/L, BALF: (23.6 +/- 1.7) ng/L; all P < 0.01], while the level of IFN-gamma [PBMC: (17.6 +/- 2.5) ng/L, BALF: (28.5 +/- 3.6) ng/L] decreased as compared with the control group [PBMC: (24.3 +/- 1.7) ng/L, BALF: (38.4 +/- 2.8) ng/L; all P < 0.01]. In the asthmatic group, the percentage of IL-4 mRNA positive-staining cells [PBMC: (76.2 +/- 7.2)%, BALF: (85.7 +/- 8.4)%] among the gammadeltaT cells significantly increased as compared with the control group [PBMC: (20.6 +/- 5.3)%, BALF: (25.0 +/- 6.8)%; all P < 0.01], while the percentage of IFN-gammamRNA positive-staining cells [PBMC: (30.9 +/- 6.7)%, BALF: (41.5 +/- 3.6)%] among the gammadeltaT cells significantly decrease as compared with the control group [PBMC: (60.1 +/- 4.2)%, BALF: (53.8 +/- 5.1)%; all P < 0.01].


CONCLUSIONS
gammadeltaT cells can secrete both IL-4 and IFN-gamma at the same time, or there are two subsets of gammadeltaT cells which can secrete either IL-4 or IFN-gamma in PBMC or BALF in asthma. Th1/Th2 immune response mode is present in gammadeltaT cells of asthma and Th2-cytokine profile predominates. gammadeltaT cells is involved in the pathogenesis of asthma.
Li
Chao-qian
CQ
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Xu
Yong-jian
YJ
Yang
Dan-lei
DL
Shi
Huan-zhong
HZ
Liu
Xian-sheng
XS
Xiong
Wei-ning
WN
Chen
Shi-xin
SX
Ni
Wang
W
Zhang
Zhen-xiang
ZX
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma