Different profiles of IL-10+IFN-gamma-IL-4-CD4+ T cells in the peripheral blood in atopic and non-atopic asthmatics.
BACKGROUND
The impaired production of interleukin (IL) 10 from regulatory T cells has been proposed as a causal mechanism of asthma. Although IL-10-producing (IL-10+) T cells are detectable in the peripheral blood, their significance in the pathophysiology of asthma remains uncertain.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the profile of circulating IL-10+CD4+ T cells in atopic and non-atopic asthma.


METHODS
Atopic and non-atopic asthmatics were divided into a mild and severe group. Their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies and then processed for triple cytokine flow cytometry directed to IL-10, interferon (IFN) gamma and IL-4.


RESULTS
IL-10+CD4+ cells were exclusively detected in the IFN-gamma-IL-4- population. In atopic asthma, the frequency of IL-10+IFN-gamma-IL-4-CD4+ cells in the severe group was significantly lower than that in the mild group. The frequency of IL-10+IFN-gamma-IL-4-CD4+ cells in the severe group was not significantly different from that in the mild group of those with non-atopic asthma. The frequency of IL-4+IFN-gamma-IL-10-CD4+ cells (Th2) was significantly higher in the group with mild atopic asthma than in that with mild non-atopic asthma. IFN-gamma+IL-4-IL-10-CD4+ cells (Th1) did not differ between groups, irrespective whether the subjects suffered from atopic or non-atopic asthma.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-10+CD4+ cells in PBMCs may be distinct from Th1 or Th2 and likely have the profile of regulatory T cells. The differential association of IL-10+IFN-gamma-IL-4-CD4+ cells with clinical severity between atopic and non-atopic asthma implies that its pathophysiological significance may differ among asthma phenotypes.
Matsumoto
K
K
Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Inoue
H
H
Tsuda
M
M
Nakano
T
T
Komori
M
M
Fukuyama
S
S
Nakanishi
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma