A clonal analysis of lung T cells derived by bronchoalveolar lavage of healthy individuals

The characteristics of the T-cell population in the healthy human lung have been investigated by analysing the properties of T-cell clones derived from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples and comparing them with T cells cloned from the blood of the same individuals. The proportions of CD4+ and CD8+...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Immunology 1992-09, Vol.77 (1), p.31-37
Main Authors: GARLEEP, M. J, ROSE, A. H, BOMWAN, R. V, MAVADDAT, N, DENCH, J, HOLT, B. J, BARON-HAY, M, HOLT, P. G, ROBINSON, B. W. S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - immunology
CD4 Antigens - analysis
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology
CD8 Antigens - analysis
Clone Cells - immunology
Cytokines - biosynthesis
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fundamental immunology
Humans
Immunobiology
Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis
Interleukin-2 - biosynthesis
Lung - immunology
Lymphoid cells: ontogeny, maturation, markers, receptors, circulation and recirculation
Male
Middle Aged
T-Lymphocytes - immunology
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Summary:The characteristics of the T-cell population in the healthy human lung have been investigated by analysing the properties of T-cell clones derived from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples and comparing them with T cells cloned from the blood of the same individuals. The proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the starting populations from BAL and blood were similar although only 14% of BAL T cells were CD45RA+ compared to 70% of blood T cells. The precursor frequency of T-cell clones derived from BAL was less than from blood. The cytokine profiles [after phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation] of the clones derived from both sources were markedly different and these differences lay in the CD4+ population. BAL-derived CD4+ clones produced interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) more frequently than did those from blood while blood-derived clones were more likely to produce interleukin-2 (IL-2) than those from BAL. IL-4 was produced by the majority of BAL- or blood-derived clones (93% and 88% respectively) either along with IFN-gamma (BAL) or IL-2 (blood). The cytokine profiles of BAL-derived T-cell clones are consistent with those derived from lung interstitium and suggest that the BAL T-cell populations reflect those in the lung wall. Whether the unique properties of lung T cells are acquired after leaving the blood or whether there is selective entry of T-cell subpopulations into the lung remains to be determined.
ISSN:0019-2805
1365-2567