A novel technique to explore the functions of bronchial mucosal T cells in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: application to cytotoxicity and cytokine immunoreactivity

作者：Lethbridge M W; Kemeny D M; Ratoff J C; O'Connor B J; Hawrylowicz C M; Corrigan C J^*

来源：Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 2010, 161(3): 560-569.

DOI：10.1111/j.1365-2249.2010.04198.x

• COPD
• cytokine
• cytotoxicity
• pathogenesis
• T cell

P>Bronchial mucosal CD8+ cells are implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis, but there are few data on their functional properties. We have developed a novel technique to outgrow these cells from COPD patients in sufficient numbers to examine effector functions. Endobronchial biopsies from 15 COPD smokers and 12 ex-smokers, 11 control smokers and 10 non-smokers were cultured with anti-CD3/interleukin (IL)-2 +/- IL-15. Outgrown CD3+ T cells were characterized in terms of phenotype (expression of CD4, 8, 25, 28, 69 and 56), cytotoxicity and expression of COPD-related cytokines. Compared with IL-2 alone, additional IL-15 increased the yield and viability of biopsy-derived CD3+ T cells (12-16-day culture without restimulation) without alteration of CD4+/CD8+ ratios or expression of accessory/activation molecules. Biopsy-derived T cells, principally CD8+/CD56+ cells, exhibited statistically significantly greater cytotoxic activity in current or ex-smokers with COPD compared with controls (P < 0 center dot 01). Elevated percentages of CD8+ T cells expressed interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and IL-13 (P < 0 center dot 01) in current COPD smokers compared with all comparison groups. It is possible to perform functional studies on bronchial mucosal T cells in COPD. We demonstrate increased CD8+CD56+ T cell cytotoxic activity and expression of remodelling cytokines in smokers who develop COPD.

• 出版日期2010-9
• 单位河北医科大学