These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Correlation between peripheral blood T-cell profiles and airway inflammation in atopic asthma.
    Author: Shirai T, Inui N, Suda T, Chida K.
    Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol; 2006 Sep; 118(3):622-6. PubMed ID: 16950280.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that T(H)1/T(H)2 and T(C)1/T(C)2 cell imbalances are implicated in asthma pathogenesis. However, the relationship of T-cell profiles to airway inflammation has not been understood. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to clarify the correlation between peripheral blood T-cell profiles and airway inflammatory parameters. METHODS: Subjects included 21 patients with atopic asthma and 20 healthy control subjects. After stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin, flow cytometry was used to analyze intracellular cytokine staining for IFN-gamma and IL-4 in peripheral blood CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. Airway inflammation was assessed by using exhaled nitric oxide analysis and induced sputum eosinophil counts. RESULTS: There were a significantly increased proportion of IL-4-producing CD4(+) T cells (median, 2.7% [interquartile range, 2.4% to 3.3%] vs 1.8% [interquartile range, 1.3% to 2.7%]) and a lower ratio of IFN-gamma-producing/IL-4-producing CD4(+) T cells (7.3% [interquartile range, 5.8% to 9.5%] vs 10.0% [interquartile range, 8.8% to 13.2%]) in asthmatic patients compared with in healthy subjects (P < .01) but no increase or decrease in the proportion of IFN-gamma-producing CD4(+) T cells. No significant difference was found in the proportion of IFN-gamma- or IL-4-producing CD8(+) T cells between the 2 groups. The proportion of IL-4-producing CD4(+) T cells was significantly correlated with exhaled nitric oxide (r = 0.48, P < .05) and induced sputum eosinophil counts (r = 0.50, P < .05). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate a correlation between peripheral blood T(H)2 cytokine production and markers of airway inflammation. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: There is an association between immune function and clinical indicators in asthma.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]