Increased intraepithelial (CD103+) CD8+ T cells in the airways of smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
T cells are accumulated in the lungs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Intraepithelial T cells, expressing the integrin αE (CD103) β7, and regulatory T cells have been implicated in pathogenesis of the disease. We asked whether COPD patients and smokers have altered frequencies of these T cells and if their phenotypes differ. A total of 40 never-smokers, 40 smokers with normal lung function and 38 COPD patients (GOLD I and II), of which 11 were ex-smokers, were included. T cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and peripheral blood were analysed for the expression of CD103, FOXP3 and markers of activation and differentiation using multi-colour flow cytometry. Smokers, regardless of airway obstruction, had significantly more CD8+CD103+ cells in their BAL fluid compared to never-smokers but less of those cells were CD27+CD69-. Smokers, in particular those with chronic bronchitis, had a higher percentage of CD4+FOXP3+ T-regulatory BAL cells compared to never-smokers and COPD ex-smokers. Chronic cigarette smoking leads to an accumulation of CD8+ T cells with an altered phenotype in the airway epithelium. The increased frequency of regulatory T cells may influence the ability to regulate smoke-induced inflammation which could be decisive for disease development. Our results further indicate a reversibility of smoke-induced changes.
Karolinska Institutet, Department of Medicine, Respiratory Medicine Unit, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.
M
M
Mikko
H
H
Forsslund
L
L
Cui
J
J
Grunewald
A M
AM
Wheelock
J
J
Wahlström
C M
CM
Sköld
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains; C091367:alpha E integrins