Peripheral blood Th9 cells and IL-9 level in asthma patients with early and dual asthmatic response

Abstract

Introduction: Allergic asthma (AA) patients develop different asthmatic response types after allergen challenge. Differences concerning Th9 cells and iterleukin-9 (IL9) in early asthmatic response (EAR) and dual asthmatic response (DAR) are not investigated. Study aim was to estimate the count of peripheral blood Th9 cells and interleukin-9 (IL-9) level in asthma patients with EAR and DAR. Material and Methods: 47 patients free of steroids with mild or moderate AA and 29 healthy individuals (HI) as control group were examined. Peripheral blood was collected 24h before and 24h after bronchial allergen challenge (BAC). Th9 cells were defined by flow cytometry as CD4+IL9+IFNγ-TGFβ1-IL4-IL17-, serum interleukin-9 (IL-9) concentration was investigated by ELISA. Results: 30 AA patients developed EAR, 17 AA patients developed DAR after BAC. In baseline data DAR group had higher percentage of peripheral blood Th9 cells compare with EAR and HI group (0.98% vs. 0.55% vs. 0.09%, P<0.01). 24h after BAC percentage of Th9 cells significantly increased in AA patients compare to HI (0.64% vs. 0.11%, P<0.01). Greater percentage of Th9 cells was found in DAR group compare with EAR asthma patients group (1,82% vs.1,03%, P<0.01). At the baseline serum IL-9 concentration was higher in DAR group compare to EAR and HI groups (78pg/ml vs. 67pg/ml vs. 37pg/ml, P<0.01). IL-9 concentration increased in all AA patients but especially in DAR group 24h after BAC (P<0.01). No significant IL-9 level differences was found HI group. Conclusions: Asthma patients with DAR demonstrate greater percentage of peripheral blood Th9 cell count and IL-9 level compared to patients with EAR.