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IL ‐13‐producing BLT 1‐positive CD 8 cells are increased in asthma and are associated with airway obstruction
Author(s) -
Dakhama A.,
Collins M. L.,
Ohnishi H.,
Goleva E.,
Leung D. Y. M.,
Alam R.,
Sutherland E. R.,
Martin R. J.,
Gelfand E. W.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/all.12135
Subject(s) - bronchoalveolar lavage , pathogenesis , asthma , immunology , medicine , cd8 , ionomycin , immunoglobulin e , t lymphocyte , bronchial hyperresponsiveness , reticular connective tissue , lung , endocrinology , respiratory disease , pathology , antigen , antibody , stimulation
Background The role of CD 8 T lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of asthma is not well understood. We investigated whether a subset of IL ‐13‐producing BLT 1‐positive CD 8 T lymphocytes are present in asthmatic airways and are associated with impaired lung function. Methods Bronchoalveolar lavage ( BAL ) cells were obtained from asthmatic ( n = 39) and healthy control ( n = 28) subjects. Cells were stimulated with phorbol ester and ionomycin in the presence of brefeldin A and stained for CD 8, BLT 1, and intracellular IL ‐13. The frequency of IL ‐13‐producing BLT 1‐positive CD 8 T lymphocytes was compared between the two groups and related to lung function, serum I g E levels, and reticular basement membrane ( RBM ) thickness. Results A subset of CD 8 T lymphocytes expressing BLT 1 and producing IL ‐13 were detected in the airways of all asthmatic subjects. The frequency of this subset among recovered lymphocytes was significantly higher in the airways of asthmatic subjects compared with controls (mean ± SEM : 16.2 ± 1.4 vs 5.3 ± 0.5, respectively, P < 0.001) and correlated positively with serum IgE levels and RBM thickness. More importantly, the frequency of CD 8 T lymphocytes co‐expressing BLT 1 and IL ‐13 was inversely related to FEV 1 and FEF [25–75] percent predicted values ( P < 0.001). Conclusions A subset of CD 8 T lymphocytes expressing BLT 1 and producing IL ‐13 is present in the airways of asthmatics. The accumulation of these cells is associated with airway obstruction, suggesting that they may play a significant pathogenic role in bronchial asthma.