Abstract
Aim: Native immune system activates acquired immunity by Toll Like Receptors (TLR). There may be some alterations in T cell profile and TLR expression in peripheral blood monocytes of COPD patients. We aimed to evaluate the utilization of the ratio of CD4+, CD8+ T cells and TLR-2 expression as a marker of lung pathology as well as their relationship between pulmonary function tests in COPD patients and smokers.
Method: Forty stable COPD patients admitted to our university's outpatient clinic and 40 volunteers were included in the study. The study population was evaluated in 4 groups according to their smoking status. CD4+, CD8+ T cells and monocyte TLR-2 expression was measured by flow cytometry in patients and control groups. Spirometry was performed in the whole study population except for nonsmoker control group.
Results: TLR-2 expressions investigated in CD14+ cells were found%56±25 in Group 1 (nonsmoker COPD),%65±23 in Group 2 (smoker COPD),%64±24 in Group 3 (healthy smoker) and%52±25 in Group 4 (healthy nonsmoker), any difference was not observed between the groups. CD4+, CD8+ T cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratios were not found to be different between the groups. CD4+ T cells and FEV1, FEV1/FVC had a positive correlation (r=0,311, p=0,01; r=0,293, p=0,023, respectively). CD4+/CD8+ ratios and FEV1/FVC also showed positive correlation (r=0,295, p=0,022). Smoking amount and CD4+/CD8+ ratios had a negative correlation (r= -0,274, p=0,034).
Conclusion: The results of our study demonstrated that CD4+/CD8+ ratio may be used as a biomarker to evaluate the pathogenesis of COPD, however TLR-2 is not convenient for this purpose.
- © 2011 ERS
