title: Increased expression of α₂ (CD49b), α₄ (CD49d) and β₁ (CD29) integrin subunits on peripheral blood T lymphocytes in clinically stable mild-to-moderate persistent asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adhesive molecules, particularly selectins and integrins, are critical for the inflammatory cell trafficking from blood to the lungs. Among integrins, the most important for cell infiltration are those containing α₄ and β₂ subunits.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of α₁ and α₂ integrin subunits on peripheral blood T cells in asthmatic subjects, because previously we showed evidence that α₁β₁ and α₂β₁ integrins may be found on peripheral blood eosinophils in these subjects. In this study, we also analyzed the expression of α₄ and β₁ subunits as a positive reference.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of α₁, α₂, α₄, and β₁ subunits was analyzed by flow cytometry on CD₄+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes obtained from the peripheral blood of 54 clinically stable, asymptomatic, mild-to-moderate persistent asthmatics and 40 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The α₁ subunit was not present on peripheral blood T cells in the majority of subjects in both study groups. Expression of α₂ was detectable on CD8+ cells in both groups and was increased on CD4+ in asthmatics. Both types of T cells showed higher expression of α₄ and β₁ in patients with asthma. Expression of α₄ was higher on CD8+ T cells both in asthmatics and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of α₄ and β₁ integrin subunits is increased on peripheral blood T cells in patients with asthma, which confirms the preactivation of blood lymphocytes even in stable and asymptomatic disease. The biological role of α₂ subunit on T cells remains to be elucidated.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland. mmsocha@cyf‑kr.edu.pl
authors.forename: Stanisława
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bazan-Socha
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Żuk
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jakieła
authors.forename: Grażyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pulka
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pełka
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Musiał
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D039441:Integrin alpha4 / Q000097:blood*; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000097:blood*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D038981:Receptors, Collagen / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018821:CD18 Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019012:Integrin beta1; D038981:Receptors, Collagen; D039441:Integrin alpha4