Abstract
Background: The pathogenesis and the inflammatory cell profile of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are subject to a continuous debate. Recent studies demonstrate that eosinophils contribute to inflammation, which suggests involvement of Th2 lymphocytes. A classification of COPD into different immunophenotypes, depending on the inflammatory cell profile, may facilitate the development of targeted treatments
Aims: To investigate the peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subset quantities in COPD phenotypes
Method: Whole blood samples obtained from COPD patients and healthy controls were incubated with fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies (CD3+ FITC, CD8+ PE and CD4+ APC) and prepared with Ficoll-paque density gradient centrifugation for immunophenotypical analysis by flow cytometry
Results: 3 different T-lymphocyte profiles in COPD patients are seen. Group A) normal CD4+ CD8+ (mean CD4+ 60.88 %; CD8+ 35.94%; %sputum eosinophils 3.75) comparable to the control group; Group B) higher than normal CD8+ and low CD4+ count (mean CD4+ 39.13%; CD8+ 57.35;sputum eosinophils 5% ); Group C) high CD4+ and low CD8+ count (mean CD4+ 81.44; CD8+ 17.88; sputum eosinophils 0.7%)
Conclusion: There are distinct subgroups of COPD patients identifiable by their T- lymphocyte profiles. Whether this infers a separate pathoimmunobiology in COPD needs further investigation.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015
