Expression of naive/memory (CD45RA/CD45RO) markers by peripheral blood CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in children with asthma

• Published in: Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis 2008-02, Vol.56 (1), p.55-62
• Main Authors: Machura, Edyta, Mazur, Bogdan, Pieniążek, Wojciech, Karczewska, Krystyna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Asthma; Asthma - immunology; Asthma - metabolism; Asthma - pathology; Asthma - physiopathology; Biomarkers - metabolism; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Cell Count; Child; children; Eosinophils - immunology; Eosinophils - pathology; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin E - biosynthesis; Immunoglobulins - immunology; Immunoglobulins - metabolism; Immunologic Memory; Immunology; Immunophenotyping; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit - biosynthesis; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit - immunology; Leukocyte Common Antigens - biosynthesis; Leukocyte Common Antigens - immunology; lymphocyte; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Original; Original Article; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Severity of Illness Index
• ISSN: 0004-069X; 1661-4917
• DOI: 10.1007/s00005-008-0005-6

Introduction: The role of CD4⁺ T cells in the immunopathogenesis of asthma is well documented. Little is known about the role of CD8⁺ T cells. The aim of this study was to assess peripheral blood subsets of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells expressing naive/memory markers (CD45RA⁺/RO⁺) and the activation marker (CD25⁺) in children with allergic asthma. Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from children with allergic asthma and healthy children. T cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry for the expressions of CD45RA, CD45RO, and CD25. In this study, some differences in the memory compartment of peripheral blood T cells between asthmatic children and healthy controls were detected. Results: The absolute number of CD8⁺ T cells expressing CD45RO was significantly elevated and the percentages of CD3⁺ T cells expressing activation marker CD25 and of CD4⁺ T cells expressing memory marker CD45RO were significantly lower in children with asthma compared with controls. No correlation was found between severity of asthma and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets. Conclusions: There were some differences in the memory compartment of peripheral blood T cells between asthmatic children and healthy controls. The increase in the number of CD8⁺ T cells expressing the memory marker (CD45RO) in children with allergic asthma may indicate that CD8⁺ T cells play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma.