title: Distribution of γδ and other T-lymphocyte subsets in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
abstract: The role of T lymphocytes in pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory airway diseases - asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been emphasized in recent years: the importance of αβ T-cells (CD8+ and CD4+) has been widely described. A substantial fraction of γδ T-cells is a composite part of pulmonary T lymphocytes. Specific localisation of γδ T-cells in epithelium/mucosa-rich tissues implies their potential role in local inflammatory immune response, which occurs in chronic inflammatory airway diseases. An investigation was made of the T-lymphocyte subsets in induced sputum (IS), in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and in peripheral blood from 20 patients with COPD (stages II-III; GOLD), 18 patients with asthma (persistent mild to moderate; GINA) and 14 healthy subjects. Relationship of γδ T-cells with lung function and smoking history was analysed. COPD patients had significantly higher numbers of CD8+T-cells in the airways of smokers compared to ex-smokers in the COPD group. A significant positive correlation was found between CD8+T-cells and pack-years of smoking. Differently, the COPD patients had significantly lower relative and absolute numbers of γδ T-cells in IS and in BAL compared to those from asthma or healthy subjects. The quantity of γδ T-cells negatively correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s and smoking (pack-years) only in COPD group. Our findings indicate a different local inflammatory response in COPD patients and in asthmatic groups. The reduced amount of γδ T-cells in IS and in BAL from COPD patients raises the hypothesis about their important role in pathogenesis of COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology and Immunology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu 2, LT-50009, Kaunas, Lithuania. daivaurboniene@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Daiva
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Urboniene
authors.forename: Agne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Babusyte
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lötvall
authors.forename: Raimundas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sakalauskas
authors.forename: Brigita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sitkauskiene
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D012907:Smoking / Q000276:immunology; D013183:Sputum / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta