Increased Expression of CCL4/MIP-1β IN CD8+ Cells and CD4+ Cells in Sarcoidosis

• Published in: International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology 2014-04, Vol.27 (2), p.185-193
• Main Authors: Barczyk, A., Pierzchała, E., Caramori, G., Sozańska, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biomarkers - analysis; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - immunology; Case-Control Studies; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - pathology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Cell Communication; Chemokine CCL3 - analysis; Chemokine CCL4 - analysis; Chemokine CCL5 - analysis; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Lung - immunology; Lung - pathology; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Middle Aged; Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary - immunology; Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary - pathology; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th2 Cells - immunology; Up-Regulation
• ISSN: 0394-6320; 2058-7384
• DOI: 10.1177/039463201402700205

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease with an increased accumulation of T cells in lungs as a result of on-site proliferation and chemotaxis induced by chemokines. It has already been demonstrated that CCL3-5 levels were increased in BAL fluid of sarcoidosis patients. To analyze the expression of CCL3-5 chemokines by T-cell subtypes (CD4+, CD8+, Th1, Th2, Tc1 or Tc2) in the lungs of sarcoidosis patients, fifteen untreated sarcoidosis patients and eighteen control subjects were enrolled in this study. CD4+ and CD8+ cells were isolated from BAL fluid by positive magnetic selection. The expression of CCL3-5 and other cytokines in CD4+ and CD8+ cells were measured by flow cytometry. The percentage of CD4+ or CD8+ cells expressing CCL4 were significantly higher in sarcoidosis patients (22.3% and 58.1%) compared to those seen in healthy subjects (11.1% and 16.5%, P = 0.04 and P = 0.02, respectively). In addition, the expression of CCL3, CCL4 and CCL5 was significantly elevated in CD8+ cells (8.9%, 58.1% and 2.1%) compared to CD4+ cells (2.1%, 22.3% and 0.7%; P = 0.04, P = 0.009 and P = 0.04, respectively), whereas CCL4 was expressed by significantly more Tc1 than Th1 cells in sarcoidosis patients (P = 0.006). Our study shows the possible role of CD8+ cells and CD4+ cells in recruiting T cells to the site of inflammation in sarcoidosis through the release of CCL4, either alone or together with Th1/Tc1-associated cytokines.