Imbalance of Circulating T-Lymphocyte Subpopulation in COPD and its Relationship with CAT Performance

• Published in: Journal of clinical laboratory analysis 2012-02, Vol.26 (2), p.109-114
• Main Authors: Chen, Cheng, Shen, Yu, Ni, Chong-Jun, Zhu, Ye-Han, Huang, Jian-An
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: assessment; CD4-CD8 Ratio; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Cell Movement - immunology; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; COPD; correlation; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Emphysema; Female; Flow Cytometry; health status; Humans; Immune system; Lymphocytes; Male; Original; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - immunology; T lymphocyte; T-Lymphocytes - immunology
• ISSN: 0887-8013; 1098-2825
• DOI: 10.1002/jcla.21490

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with systemic effects, and T‐cell‐mediated immunity was involved in the COPD. COPD Assessment Test (CAT) could provide a valid, reliable, and standardized measure of COPD health status. The objective of this study was determination of lymphocyte subpopulation in patients with stable COPD (n = 52) and to ascertain if a relationship existed between T‐lymphocyte subpopulation and CAT performance. The stable COPD patients were assessed with CAT, and divided into four groups with score >30 (n = 8), 20< score ≤30 (n = 16), 10< score ≤20 (n = 20), and score ≤10 (n = 8). Spearman's rank correlation was used to determine the relationship between proportion of T lymphocyte and CAT score. We found an elevated proportion of CD8+ cells in COPD patients of the group with score >30 compared to other groups. Proportion of CD4+ cells was significantly lower in the groups with score >30 and 20< score ≤30 when compared to groups with 10< score ≤20 and score ≤10. The CD4+:CD8+ ratio was also significantly lower in the groups with score >30 and 20< score ≤30. Of note are the correlations of proportion of CD8+ cells and CD4+:CD8+ ratio with CAT performance when score >20. No correlations existed between proportion of CD4+, CD8+ cells, CD4+:CD8+ ratio, and CAT performance when score ≤20. Our results show that the determinants of T‐lymphocyte subpopulation in COPD patients were value to assess physical conditions. We considered CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes to be a representative and stable parameter in grading of health status in COPD patients.