[The significance of cell cycle distribution and expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins in T lymphocytes in patients with acute asthma attack].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the molecular regulatory mechanisms of excessive T lymphocyte activation and proliferation in patients with asthma attack by studying the cell cycle distribution and the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins (CCRP) in peripheral blood T lymphocytes.


METHODS
DNA of T lymphocytes from 30 patients with asthma attack and 20 normal subjects was stained with propidium iodide, and the cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. By indirect immunofluorescence, the expressions of P27kipl, cyclin E, cyclin A, and cyclin B in T lymphocytes were measured by flow cytometry. The difference between patients with asthma attack and normal subjects was analyzed.


RESULTS
The percentage of T lymphocytes in the S phase and S + G(2)/M phase was (18 +/- 9)% and (25 +/- 10)% respectively in the asthma group, which were significantly higher than those in the control group [(5 +/- 4)%, (11 +/- 6)%, all P < 0.01 respectively]. The percentage of T lymphocytes in the G(0)/G(1) phase in the asthma group was (76 +/- 10)%, which was significantly lower than that in the control group [(90 +/- 6)%, P < 0.01]. The expression of P27kipl in T lymphocytes of the asthma group (4.0 +/- 2.4)% was lower than that of the control group [(6.7 +/- 4.8)%, P < 0.05]. The expression of cyclin E, cyclin A, and cyclin B in T lymphocytes of the asthma group [(25 +/- 24)%, (9 +/- 7)% and (6.4 +/- 5.9)%, respectively] were significantly higher than those of the control group [(6 +/- 5)%, (4 +/- 4)% and (3.4 +/- 1.6)% respectively], the differences being all statistically significant (all P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The abnormal expression of CCRP in T lymphocytes was related to the excessive activation and proliferation of T lymphocytes in patients with asthma attack. A new approach to asthma therapy may be developed with CCRP as a regulatory target.
Zhang
Hong-Mei
HM
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Hospital, Affiliated to Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen 518020, China.
Qiu
Chen
C
Li
Fu-Rong
FR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins