Abstract
BACKGROUND: Different forms of chronic airway inflammation may involve diverse pathogenic elements. In general, deficient defence response is a feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereas distorted immunoregulatory mechanisms lead to development of asthmatic symptoms. In addition to diverse effector mechanisms, the cellular and humoral elements participating in the development of immune response may appear to be different in COPD and bronchial asthma (BA) patients. AIMS: To evaluate the immunoregulatory properties of T cells and monocytes in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and to determine the chosen cytokine profiles in COPD and BA patients. METHODS: The microcultures of PBMC from COPD and BA patients were assessed for the T-cell response to mitogens, saturation of interleukin (IL)-2 receptors, T-cell suppressive activity and monokine influence on lymphocyte proliferation. Concomitantly, the cytokine (IL-1beta, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8) concentrations were determined in the serum, the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid and in the culture supernatants. RESULTS: The T-lymphocyte reactions (response to phytohaemagglutinin, IL-2 receptor saturation, suppressive activity) were lower in BA patients than in COPD patients. Reversely, the immunogenic activity of monocytes (IL-1beta versus IL-1ra production) was higher in BA patients than in COPD patients. The highest values of cytokine concentrations were found in the culture supernatants. The concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly higher and the concentration of IL-1ra was lower in BA patients than in COPD patients. CONCLUSION: The assessments of cellular immunoregulatory properties and cytokine profiles in the cultures of blood mononuclear cells may prove helpful for diagnostic and therapeutic discrimination between BA and COPD patients.
Highlights
Bronchial asthma (BA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have become an increasing problem for contemporary medicine and public health
To gain an immunodiagnostic insight that could help to discern between COPD and bronchial asthma (BA) patients who demonstrate exacerbated bronchospastic symptoms, we have assessed their blood-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) for immunoregulatory properties [lymphocyte responses to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and to concanavalin A (Con A), Con A-induced T-cell suppressive activity (SAT index), monokine influence on lymphocyte proliferation (LM index), and saturation of lymphocyte IL-2 receptors (IL-2 index)], which were tested in the microculture system.[10]
The serum, the broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and the supernatants of cultured PBMC were assessed for concentrations of the chosen cytokines (TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-1ra, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-8) to compare their quantities and mutual proportions depending on the source of the tested samples and on their origin from COPD or BA patients
Summary
Bronchial asthma (BA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have become an increasing problem for contemporary medicine and public health. There are some wellestablished differences between the repertoires of cellular and humoral elements involved in both processes.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9] TCD8 lymphocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, leukotriene LTB4, tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and interleukin (IL)-8 are the main representatives of the local inflammatory milieau of COPD, whereas mast cells, basophils, active eosinophils, macrophages, TCD4 cells of T helper (Th)[2] type, To gain an immunodiagnostic insight that could help to discern between COPD and BA patients who demonstrate exacerbated bronchospastic symptoms, we have assessed their blood-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) for immunoregulatory properties [lymphocyte responses to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and to concanavalin A (Con A), Con A-induced T-cell suppressive activity (SAT index), monokine (interleukin-1 receptor antagonist/IL-1b) influence on lymphocyte proliferation (LM index), and saturation of lymphocyte IL-2 receptors (IL-2 index)], which were tested in the microculture system.[10] Concomitantly, the serum, the broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and the supernatants of cultured PBMC were assessed for concentrations of the chosen cytokines (TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-1ra, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-8) to compare their quantities and mutual proportions depending on the source of the tested samples and on their origin from COPD or BA patients. Conclusion: The assessments of cellular immunoregulatory properties and cytokine profiles in the cultures of blood mononuclear cells may prove helpful for diagnostic and therapeutic discrimination between BA and COPD patients
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