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

Song, Kwang Seon; Lee, Won Yeon; Hong, Ae Ra; Kim, Hee Sun; Yong, Suk Joong; Shin, Kye Chul

doi:1998.45.1.90

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 45(1); 1998 > Article

Original Article

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 1998;45(1):90-98.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1998.45.1.90 Published online February 1, 1998.

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

Kwang Seon Song, Won Yeon Lee, Ae Ra Hong, Hee Sun Kim, Suk Joong Yong, Kye Chul Shin

Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.

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.

Key Words: Atopic asthma, CD62L(L-selectin), Interleukin-4