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Phenotypic and molecular characterization of CD103 + CD4 + T cells in bronchoalveolar lavage from patients with interstitial lung diseases
Author(s) -
Braun Ruedi K.,
Foerster Martin,
Grahmann P. Reinhard,
Haefner Daniela,
Workalemahu Grefachew,
Kroegel Claus
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
cytometry part b: clinical cytometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1552-4957
pISSN - 1552-4949
DOI - 10.1002/cyto.b.10021
Subject(s) - cd28 , microbiology and biotechnology , bronchoalveolar lavage , il 2 receptor , flow cytometry , biology , tumor necrosis factor alpha , antigen , lung , t cell , immunology , cd8 , medicine , immune system
Background The integrin CD103 is preferentially expressed on intraepithelial T lymphocytes, and cells expressing this integrin may play a regulatory role in the microenvironment of the epithelial cell layer. Methods The relative number of CD103 + /CD4 + T cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage was significantly elevated in all patients diagnosed with interstitial lung diseases compared with patients with other non‐fibrotic disorders of the lung. Results Analysis by flow cytometry showed that the CD103 + and the CD103 − subpopulations were memory T cells based on the high expression of CD45RO + . However, the CD103 + /CD4 + T cells were CD25 low , CD27 − , CD28 low , and CD62L − , whereas the CD103 − /CD4 + T cells expressed CD25 and CD62L and were CD27 high and CD28 high . In addition, the CD103 + /CD4 + T cells expressed significantly higher quantities of VLA‐1 and CD101 than did CD103 − /CD4 + T cells. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis of purified CD103 + and CD103 − CD4 + T cells showed production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α‐R‐1 (p55), TNF‐α‐R‐2 (p75), interferon γ, interleukin‐10, and TNF‐α mRNA in both subpopulations. No interleukin‐4 mRNA was detected in either subpopulation. Conclusions CD103 + /CD4 + T cells represent a T‐helper 1–like subpopulation in human lungs with a distinct effector phenotype. Despite the lack of CD27 and the low CD25 and CD28 expression, these cells show a high degree of activation. These results suggest that CD103 expressing CD4 T cells in the lung are continuously activated, long‐living cells. Cytometry Part B (Clin. Cytometry) 54B:19–27, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.