Increased interferon-gamma- and interleukin-4-synthesizing subsets of circulating T lymphocytes in pregnant asthmatics.
BACKGROUND
Pregnancy frequently interferes with the course of bronchial asthma, and asthmatic pregnant women experience less successful pregnancies. T lymphocytes synthesizing IL-4 or IFN-gamma are important in allergic mechanisms of the airways as well as in materno-fetal immunity.


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that pregnancy (a T helper-2 polarized state) of asthmatics will enhance the number of circulating T2 lymphocytes, but decrease the subset-producing IFN-gamma (T1 lymphocytes) and thereby cause a culminating T2 dominance with possible clinical consequences.


METHODS
IL-4- or IFN-gamma-producing T lymphocytes were determined by flow cytometry in healthy (n=8) and asthmatic (n=13) non-pregnant women and healthy (n=18) and asthmatic (n=48) pregnant women of similar chronological and gestational (2nd-3rd trimester) age and asthma severity (Global Initiative for Asthma II-III).


RESULTS
In the blood of non-pregnant women--healthy or asthmatic--the numbers of IL-4- and IFN-gamma+ T cells were very low (<10/microL blood). In contrast, in asthmatic pregnant women, the cell counts were 182+/-27 and 39+/-6 for IFN-gamma+ and IL-4+ T cells/microL blood, respectively (both P<0.05 vs. respective control values of non-pregnant asthmatics). Within the asthmatic pregnant group, significant negative correlations were revealed between the numbers of IFN-gamma+ or IL-4+ T cells and maternal peak expiratory flow as well as birth weight of newborns (both P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These data show a previously unknown immunological interference between asthma and pregnancy. The culminating proliferation of IFN-gamma+ and IL-4+ T lymphocytes may potentially impair maternal airway symptoms as well as fetal development.
Tamási
L
L
Department of Pulmonology, Semmelweis University, Diós árok 1/C, 1125 Budapest, Hungary.
Bohács
A
A
Pállinger
E
E
Falus
A
A
Rigó
J
J
Müller
V
V
Komlósi
Z
Z
Magyar
P
P
Losonczy
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001724:Birth Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016014:Linear Models; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma