Objective To explore the role of γδT cells in the airway of asthmatics and to identify the forces which induce and maintain the inflammatory processMethods Peripheral blood (PB) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL...Objective To explore the role of γδT cells in the airway of asthmatics and to identify the forces which induce and maintain the inflammatory processMethods Peripheral blood (PB) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were obtained from7 asthmatic subjects and 7 nonsmoker control subjects The percentage of γδT cells in the PB and BALF was measured by immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometry The frequency of usage and the clonality of Vδ subfamilies (Vδ 1-Vδ 3) were assessed by RTPCR and gene scanning Results A higher proportion of γδT cell was detected in the BALF of asthmatic subjects (7.8%±4.7%) than that from control subjects (3.3%±3.0%, P=0.04) No selective usage for a particular Vδ subfamily was found, but the relative expression level of Vδ 1 was significantly higher in the asthmatic airway (44%±13%) than in the control (19%±5%, P=0.0002) In asthmatic subjects, the monoclonal or oligoclonal expansion of γδT lymphocytes was predominant in the BALF, especially Vδ 1+ T lymphocytes Conclusions Antigenic specific γδT cells might play an important role in the inducement and maintenance of airway inflammation Persistent antigenic stimulation may be the key factor that maintains chronic airway inflammation in asthma展开更多
文摘Objective To explore the role of γδT cells in the airway of asthmatics and to identify the forces which induce and maintain the inflammatory processMethods Peripheral blood (PB) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were obtained from7 asthmatic subjects and 7 nonsmoker control subjects The percentage of γδT cells in the PB and BALF was measured by immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometry The frequency of usage and the clonality of Vδ subfamilies (Vδ 1-Vδ 3) were assessed by RTPCR and gene scanning Results A higher proportion of γδT cell was detected in the BALF of asthmatic subjects (7.8%±4.7%) than that from control subjects (3.3%±3.0%, P=0.04) No selective usage for a particular Vδ subfamily was found, but the relative expression level of Vδ 1 was significantly higher in the asthmatic airway (44%±13%) than in the control (19%±5%, P=0.0002) In asthmatic subjects, the monoclonal or oligoclonal expansion of γδT lymphocytes was predominant in the BALF, especially Vδ 1+ T lymphocytes Conclusions Antigenic specific γδT cells might play an important role in the inducement and maintenance of airway inflammation Persistent antigenic stimulation may be the key factor that maintains chronic airway inflammation in asthma