title: Major lymphocyte populations and T-cell expression of ICAM-1 and L-selectin adhesion molecules in Kuwaitis with asthma and rhinitis.
abstract: The authors evaluate major immunologic features of asthma and allergies in a Kuwaiti population. They analyzed peripheral venous blood from 17 asthmatic and 17 healthy long-term residents of Kuwait by using two-color flow cytometry for major lymphocyte subpopulations; they also evaluated 10 healthy individuals who had recently arrived in Kuwait. Relative to healthy subjects, asthmatics exhibited increased percentages of T+ NK cells (p < .01), T-helper cells (p < .05), T-cytotoxic and NK cells for both total numbers (p < .01-.001) and percentages (p < .05-.01), and increased percentages of T cells expressing CD54 (ICAM-1; p < .001) and CD62 (L-selectin; p < .01). However, B cells were present at significantly lower levels in asthmatics, both in total numbers (p < .05) and percentages (p < .01). In comparison with healthy individuals who had recently arrived in Kuwait, healthy long-term residents exhibited elevated numbers of pan-T cells (p < .01) and T-helper cells (p < .05). These results help establish immunological parameters for asthma and allergies in Kuwaiti populations.
authors.affiliation: Al-Rashed Allergy Center, Sabah Hospital, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Nermina A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Arifhodzic
authors.forename: Fadia F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
authors.forename: Habib T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Abul
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: Abdel Rahman
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Al-Dowaisan
authors.forename: Islam M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Ammar
authors.forename: Ladislav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Novotny
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wise
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D019041:L-Selectin