title: Increase of Th17 cells in peripheral blood of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disorder characterized by an inflammatory response to cigarette smoke. A disorder in immune regulation contributing to the pathogenesis of COPD has been suggested, however, little is known about the involvement of CD4 (+) T cells. To determine the distribution of different CD4(+) T cell subsets in patients with COPD, current smokers without COPD (CS) and healthy subjects (HS), and its correlation with pulmonary function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg, subsets, were quantified by flow cytometry in peripheral blood (PB) of 39 patients with COPD, 14 CS and 15 HS. Correlations were assessed with Spearman's rank test. The association between Th17 and lung function was evaluated with a multivariate logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increase of Th17 cells (median 9.7% range 0.8-22.5%) was observed in patients with COPD compared with CS (median 2.8% range 0.8-10.6) and HS (median 0.6% range 0.4-1%, p < 0.0001). Th1 and Tregs subsets were also increased in COPD and CS compared to HS. Inverse correlations were found between Th17 with FEV(1)%p r = -0.57 and with FEV(1)/FVC r = -0.60, (p < 0.0001 for both comparison). In addition, increase of Th17 predicted the presence [OR 1.76 (CI 95% 1.25-2.49, p = 0.001)] and severity of airflow limitation [OR 1.13 (CI95% 1.02-1.25, p = 0.02)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase of Th17 response and the lost of balance between CD4(+) T cell subsets, suggest a lack of regulation of the systemic inflammatory response that may contribute to pathogenesis in COPD patients.
authors.affiliation: COPD and Smoking Cessation Clinics, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Ismael Cosío Villegas, INER, Tlalpan 4502, Mexico 14080, Mexico. manecbba@yahoo.com
authors.forename: María Inés
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Vargas-Rojas
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Venegas
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Limón-Camacho
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ochoa
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hernández-Zenteno
authors.forename: Raúl H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Sansores
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17