title: Imbalance of dendritic cell co-stimulation in COPD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dendritic cells (DCs) control immunity and play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the expression of function-associated surface molecules on circulating DCs in COPD is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four-colour flow cytometry was used to compare blood DC surface molecules of 54 patients with COPD (median age: 59 years; median FEV1: 38% predicted, median CAT score: 24) with two age-matched control groups with normal lung function: 21 current smokers and 21 never-smokers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concentrations of plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) and myeloid DCs (mDCs) and the mDC/pDC ratio did not differ between the groups. The increased expression of BDCA-1, BDCA-3, CD86 and CCR5 on mDCs in patients with COPD did not significantly differ from smokers with normal lung function. In contrast, COPD was specifically characterised by a decreased expression of the anti-inflammatory co-stimulatory molecule PD-L1 on pDCs and an increased expression of the pro-inflammatory co-stimulatory molecule OX40 ligand (OX40L) on mDCs. These changes were not confined to patients with elevated systemic inflammation markers (leukocytes, c-reactive protein, interleukin-6, fibrinogen). The ratio of OX40L to PD-L1 expression (OX40L/PD-L1 ratio), a quantitative measure of imbalanced DC co-stimulation, correlated with the severity of pulmonary emphysema in patients with COPD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An imbalance of DC co-stimulation might contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Pneumologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin, Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Universität Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany. dr.paul.stoll@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stoll
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Pneumologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin, Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Universität Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany. martin.ulrich@hotmail.de.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Pneumologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin, Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Universität Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany. kai.bratke@web.de.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bratke
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Pneumologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin, Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Universität Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany. Katharina.Garbe@gmx.net.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Garbe
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Pneumologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin, Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Universität Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany. jc.h.virchow@sunrise.ch.
authors.forename: J Christian
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Virchow
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Pneumologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin, Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Universität Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany. marek.lommatzsch@med.uni-rostock.de.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lommatzsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators