title: CD8+ T cell activation and differentiation in allergic asthma and the impact of cytomegalovirus serological status.
abstract: Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory T helper 2 (Th2)-associated disease. There is evidence that the atopic milieu affects the development of CD8(+) T cells in patients. We therefore analysed activation and differentiation states of CD8(+) T cells in asymptomatic patients regarding the cytomegalovirus serological status. Memory CD8(+) T cells (CCR5(high)CD3(+)CD8(+)), memory/effector cells (CD27(+)CD28(-)CD3(+)CD8(+)), effector cells (CD27(-)CD28(-)CD3(+)CD8(+)) and activated CD8(+) T cells (CD11b(+)CD3(+)CD8(+)) were identified by flow cytometry in peripheral blood of 19 (seven cytomegalovirus (CMV)(+)/12 CMV(-)) patients with allergic asthma (AA) and 21 (seven CMV(+)/14 CMV(-)) healthy controls (HC). Effector and activated CD8(+) T cells were significantly elevated in CMV(+) HC compared to CMV(-) HC. There was a non-significant trend for reduced percentages of effector CD8(+) T cells in CMV(+) AA (median: 10.4%, range: 4.4-33.8%) compared to CMV(+) HC (median: 23.1%, range: 10.7-54.1%; P = 0.128) and in CMV(-) AA (median: 4.1%, range: 0.6-13.4%) compared to CMV(-) HC (median: 5.7%, range: 0.2-17.0%; P = 0.085). Activated CD8(+) T cells were reduced significantly in CMV(+) AA (median: 17.0%, range: 6.0-29.4%) compared to CMV(+) HC (median: 40.4%, range: 18.9-67.0%; P = 0.004) and showed a non-significant trend in CMV(-) AA (median: 15.0%, range: 2.9-24.0%) compared to CMV(-) HC (median: 20.2%, range: 5.8-71.0%; P = 0.060). Activated CD8(+) T cells are significantly reduced in CMV(+) patients with allergic asthma. Furthermore, a trend for an impaired terminal CD8(+) T cell differentiation is observed in CMV(+) and CMV(-) patients with asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, University Medical Clinic, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany. kabratke@med.uni-rostock.de
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bratke
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krieghoff
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuepper
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luttmann
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Virchow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D017735:Virus Latency
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral