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) All Versions of this Article: 34/1/89    most recent 09031936.00100708v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Permissions Request Permissions Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Plumb, J. Articles by Singh, S. D. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Plumb, J. Articles by Singh, S. D.

Increased T-regulatory cells within lymphocyte follicles in moderate COPD

¹ University of Manchester, Education and Research Centre, South Manchester University Hospitals Trust, Manchester, UK, and ² Dept of Cardiology and Respiratory Medicine, Hyidovre Hospital, Hyidovre, Denmark.

CORRESPONDENCE: J. Plumb, University of Manchester, Northwest Lung Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK. E-mail: Jonathan.Plumb{at}manchester.ac.uk

Keywords: CD4⁺FOXP3⁺, follicles, smokers

Received: July 3, 2008
Accepted January 20, 2009

Lymphoid follicles in the lung parenchyma are a characteristic feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There are reports of altered CD4 T-regulatory cell numbers in COPD lungs, but the location of these cells within COPD lung tissue specific follicles has not been investigated.

The presence of CD4⁺FOXP3⁺ T-regulatory cells was assessed in surgically resected lung tissue from 12 COPD patients, 11 smokers with normal lung function and seven nonsmokers by combined immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry.

Organised lymphoid follicles were observed in all three groups of patients, as well as lymphoid clusters lacking organisation. The percentage of CD4 cells that were T-regulatory cells were significantly increased (p = 0.02) within COPD (16%) follicles compared with smokers (10%) and nonsmokers (8%). In contrast, there was no change (p>0.05) in the percentage of T-regulatory cells in clusters or the subepithelium between groups.

Lymphoid follicles in COPD patients have increased T-regulatory cells. Therefore, T-regulatory activity may be altered within COPD lymphoid follicles.