Tuberc Respir Dis.  1998 Feb;45(1):90-98. 10.4046/trd.1998.45.1.90.

Activity of Cytokines and Expression of CD62L in Patients with Bronchial Asthma

• Song KS
• Lee WY
• Hong AR
• Kim HS
• Yong SJ
• Shin KC

• KMID: 2114498
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1998.45.1.90

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The CD4+ T-helper cells comprise functionally distinct subsets of Th1 and Th2 cells that are distinguished on the basis of differential cytokines production. Th1 cells secrete interferon-gamma, lymphotoxin, interleukin-2. Th2 cells produce interleukin-4, interleukin-5, interleukin-10. A previous study shown that Th2 cells and their cytokines increased in patients with atopic asthma. We compared cytokines(IL-4, IFN-gamma) activity and subpopulation of T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood from atopic asthmatics versus non-asthmatics. METHOD: Fifteen patients with atopic asthma(nine men, six women), twelve patients with chronic bronchitis (six men, six women), five healthy persons(three men, two women) were studied. Activity of IL-4, IFN-gamma and T-cell subpopulation in peripheral blood were estimated.
RESULTS
Patients had a median age of 55yr. The mean activity of IL-4 of asthmatics was significantly increased(control 0.75+/-1.1pmol/L, atopic asthmatics 3.50+/-0.75pmol/L, chronic bronchitis 2.01+/-1.2pmol/L), but IFN- was not significantly increased. In the T lymphocyte subsets the percent of CD62L+ T-lymphocytes of asthmatics was not significantly increased(control 16.7+/-16.4 %, atopic asthmatics 24.8+/-23.6 %, chronic bronchitis 17.0+/-16.9%).
CONCLUSION
In this study elevated production of IL-4 was observed in atopic asthmatics. CD62L+ T-lymphocytes was not increased in atopic asthma.

Keyword

Atopic asthma; CD62L(L-selectin); Interleukin-4

MeSH Terms

Asthma*
Bronchitis, Chronic
Cytokines*
Humans
Interferon-gamma
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-2
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-5
Lymphotoxin-alpha
Male
T-Lymphocyte Subsets
T-Lymphocytes
Th1 Cells
Th2 Cells
Cytokines
Interferon-gamma
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-2
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-5
Lymphotoxin-alpha