title: T helper cell subsets specific for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in healthy individuals and patients with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We set out to determine the magnitude of antigen-specific memory T helper cell responses to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in healthy humans and patients with cystic fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood human memory CD4(+) T cells were co-cultured with dendritic cells that had been infected with different strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The T helper response was determined by measuring proliferation, immunoassay of cytokine output, and immunostaining of intracellular cytokines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Healthy individuals and patients with cystic fibrosis had robust antigen-specific memory CD4(+) T cell responses to Pseudomonas aeruginosa that not only contained a Th1 and Th17 component but also Th22 cells. In contrast to previous descriptions of human Th22 cells, these Pseudomonal-specific Th22 cells lacked the skin homing markers CCR4 or CCR10, although were CCR6(+). Healthy individuals and patients with cystic fibrosis had similar levels of Th22 cells, but the patient group had significantly fewer Th17 cells in peripheral blood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Th22 cells specific to Pseudomonas aeruginosa are induced in both healthy individuals and patients with cystic fibrosis. Along with Th17 cells, they may play an important role in the pulmonary response to this microbe in patients with cystic fibrosis and other conditions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hannah K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Bayes
authors.affiliation: West of Scotland Cystic Fibrosis Centre, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bicknell
authors.affiliation: West of Scotland Cystic Fibrosis Centre, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: MacGregor
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tom J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000276:immunology*; D037182:T-Cell Antigen Receptor Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte