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Accumulation of CCR4‐expressing CD4+ T cells and high concentration of its ligands (TARC and MDC) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with eosinophilic pneumonia
Author(s) -
Katoh S.,
Fukushima K.,
Matsumoto N.,
Matsumoto K.,
Abe K.,
Onai N.,
Matsushima K.,
Matsukura S.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1034/j.1398-9995.2003.00149.x
Subject(s) - ccr4 , bronchoalveolar lavage , cc chemokine receptors , chemokine , eosinophilic pneumonia , ccl17 , immunology , medicine , flow cytometry , eosinophil , chemokine receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , lung , inflammation , asthma , biology
Background: Th2 cells are thought to be involved in eosinophilic inflammation of the lung. CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) has been identified as a specific receptor for both thymus and activation‐regulated chemokine (TARC) and macrophage‐derived chemokine (MDC), and is preferentially expressed on Th2 cells. Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the role of Th2 cells in the lung of patients with eosinophilic pneumonia (EP). Methods: The concentrations of TARC, MDC, and interleukin (IL)‐5 were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by ELISA. Proportion of CCR4‐expressing CD4+ T cells (CCR4+ CD4+ T cells) was determined by flow cytometry. Results: TARC and MDC concentrations in BALF were higher in patients with EP than in normal subjects. The proportion of CCR4‐expressing cells among CD4+ T cells was higher in BALF than in peripheral blood of patients with EP. There was a significant correlation between the number of CCR4+ CD4+ T cells and the levels of TARC, MDC, and IL‐5 in BALF of patients with EP. Conclusions: Our data suggest that Th2 cells, which express CCR4 and its ligands (TARC and MDC), contribute to the pathogenesis of EP in the lung.