title: Increased bronchial density of CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in occupational asthma: relationship to current smoking.
abstract: To identify activated T cell subset in the asthmatic bronchia, we developed a triple-colour immunohistofluorescence labelling technique on cryo-section to discriminate activated CD4+CD25+ T cells, (effector T cells) from Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg). Additional coexpression of activation and proliferation markers was also examined in situ. Bronchial biopsies were taken from 20 aluminium potroom workers (12 smokers) with asthma (>12% reversibility), 15 non-asthmatic potroom workers (7 smokers) and 10 non-smoking, non-exposed controls. Non-smoking asthmatics had significantly higher subepithelial density of both Tregs, effector T cells, activated (HLA-DR+) CD8+ and activated CD4+ T cells. Moreover, both Tregs, effector T cells and CD8+ T cells proliferated in the non-smoking asthmatics, only. Although smoking asthmatics had no asthma-associated increase in bronchial T cell, both had a significantly increase in effector T cell to Treg ratios. The significantly increased bronchial density of Tregs, effector T cells, proliferative T cells and activated CD8+ T cells in non-smoking asthmatics clearly showed that both the effector T cells and the inhibitory Treg system were activated in asthma.
authors: Laboratory for mucosal immunology LMI, IOB, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway.
authors: T B
authors: TB
authors: Sjåheim
authors: Ø
authors: Ø
authors: Bjørtuft
authors: P A
authors: PA
authors: Drabløs
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Kongerud
authors: T S
authors: TS
authors: Halstensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059366:Asthma, Occupational / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001980:Bronchi / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit