Antigen-induced T-cell changes: Modulation by pharmacologic agents

Abstract

To determine the effect of pharmacologic modulation of alterations of peripheral blood T-cell subsets caused by antigen-induced bronchoconstriction, we administered albuterol immediately after antigen-induced bronchoconstriction in a double-blind to protocol to 12 atopic asthmatic subjects. We also administered cromolyn sodium before antigen to 7 of the same subjects. Peripheral blood T-cell subset composition (CD4, CD8, Ia) of a highly purified T-cell preparation was determined before, 24, 48, 72, and 168 h after bronchoconstriction. We found that placebo inhalation immediately after antigen-induced bronchoconstriction did not affect subsequent peripheral blood T-cell subset changes (decrease in CD4+ and increase in Ia+ T lymphocytes). In contrast, inhaled albuterol abolished these T-cell subset changes. Although cromolyn sodium significantly decreased the severity of antigen-induced bronchoconstriction, it did not affect T-cell subset composition changes at the dosage used. We conclude that albuterol can ablate T-cell subset changes associated with antigen-induced bronchoconstriction. Cromolyn sodium ameliorates bronchoconstriction, but has no affect on T-cell subset composition changes. This implies that T-cell changes and bronchoconstriction caused by antigen inhalation are mediated through different pathways.