HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Koch, A. Articles by Erdmann, E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Koch, A. Articles by Erdmann, E.

Modification of surface antigens in blood CD8+ T-lymphocytes in COPD: effects of smoking

¹ Dept of Pneumology, Clinic III for Internal Medicine, and ³ Dept of Haematology, Clinic I for Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. ² Thoracic Medicine, Imperial College at National Heart & Lung Institute, London, and ⁴ Bayer Ltd, Stoke Court, Berkshire, UK.

CORRESPONDENCE: A. Koch, University of Cologne, Dept of Pneumology, Medical Clinic III, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 9, 50924 Köln, Cologne, Germany. Fax: 49 2214783137. E-mail: andrea.koch{at}uni-koeln.de

Keywords: Chemokine receptor CXCR₃, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cigarette smoking, cytotoxic effector T-cells, peripheral blood CD8+ T-lymphocytes

Received: November 13, 2005
Accepted September 22, 2006

In contrast to the effects of cigarette smoke on T-lymphocyte subsets in the airways, it has not yet been determined whether smoking has immunomodulatory effects on surface antigens of peripheral blood T-lymphocytes and, if that is the case, whether these effects differ in smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The present authors have, therefore, examined the expression of the surface activation marker CD28, the levels of cytotoxic effector lymphocytes (CD27-/CD45RA+) and the expression of the lung type (Tc)1-specific chemokine receptor CXCR₃+ on peripheral blood CD8+ T-lymphocytes. The present authors have also studied the chemotactic activity of CD8+ T-lymphocytes on monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 and compared 13 nonsmoking controls, 12 smokers with COPD and 14 smokers without airflow limitation.

There was a decrease in the total count of CD8+ T-cells and an increase in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio in smokers with COPD compared with smokers without COPD and controls. Expression of the Tc1-specific chemokine receptor CXCR₃+ by CD8+ T-cells was increased in smokers with COPD compared with smokers without COPD and controls.

The expression of activated and of cytotoxic effector CD8+ T-cells in smokers with and without COPD showed an increase compared with controls. CD8+ T-cells from smokers with and without COPD showed a decrease in chemotactic activity to MCP-1 compared with controls.

In conclusion, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be a systemic immunomodulatory disease associated with the modification of surface antigens in blood CD8+ T-lymphocytes.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. F. Rabe, B. Beghe, F. Luppi, and L. M. Fabbri Update in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2006 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 15, 2007; 175(12): 1222 - 1232. [Full Text] [PDF]