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This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: chest.07-2626v1 chest.07-2626v2 134/3/483    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Article Archive Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Makris, D. Articles by Gourgoulianis, K. I. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Makris, D. Articles by Gourgoulianis, K. I.

Tc2 response at the onset of COPD exacerbations

¹Department of Thoracic Medicine, University Hospital, Medical School, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ²Department of Hematology, University Hospital, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece ³Department of Epidemiology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece ⁴Department of Hematology, University Hospital, Medical School, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece

appollon7{at}med.uth.gr

Abstract

BackgroundT lymphocytes and especially the subpopulations of CD8 positive cells (CD8+) are believed to have a key role in COPD pathophysiology but there is only few data regarding the role of these cells in COPD exacerbation.

AimWe aimed to study prospectively changes of CD8+ T-lymphocyte subpopulations in the sputum of COPD patients, at the onset of mild exacerbations and at a stable condition in order to provide further insight in the pathophysiology of the disease.

MethodsInduced sputum samples were collected from 24 COPD patients with median (IQR) 52 (44-58) years and FEV1%pred 78.05 (75.8-80.1) at the onset of mild exacerbations not requiring hospitalization and when stable. Inflammatory cells and T-lymphocyte subpopulations (CD4+, CD8+ and cells producing IFN-, or IL-4) were measured using flow cytometry and immunocytochemical methods.

ResultsA significant increase in sputum CD8+ T-lymphocytes (p<0.0001) and significant decreases in CD4+ T-lymphocytes as well as in CD4+/CD8+ (p=0.0001) and CD8+IFN+/CD8+IL4+, CD4+IFN+/CD4+IL4+ (p=0.0001) sputum cells ratios were found decreased at the onset of exacerbations compared to stable condition. The changes in T-lymphocyte subpopulations were not associated with smoking history, demographic characteristics or disease severity.

ConclusionThe findings of the present study suggest that CD8+ lymphocytes are increased and potentially polarized towards a Tc2 profile in the airways of COPD patients at the onset of COPD exacerbations in respect to stable condition. The clinical impact of the observed phenomenon requires further investigation.

Key Words: COPD • lymphocytes • exacerbations