Abstract
Recent evidence points to the recruitment of T(H)2 cells, phenotype T lymphocytes, their activation, and the generation of T(H)2 cytokines, particularly IL-4 and IL-5, in both peripheral blood and bronchial mucosa of asthmatic patients, leading to local tissue eosinophilia and IgE-dependent mast-cell activation. Activation of T(H)2 T lymphocytes appears to be specific for asthma (as opposed to airway obstructive disease) and was shown to correlate with asthma severity as evidenced by the inverse correlation between CD25(+)/CD4(+) cells and peak expiratory flow rates. These findings support the fundamental importance of T-lymphocyte responses in bronchial asthma and delineate potential therapeutic strategies, such as broad-based immunosuppression versus a more selective approach targeted against CD4(+) T lymphocytes. The high efficacy of topical treatments (ie, inhalation) supports the notion that changes that are detectable in peripheral blood merely reflect a "spill-over" of local T-lymphocyte responses in the target organ. Conversely, the multiple systemic manifestations of allergy (such as allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis in atopic patients) support systemic therapeutic approaches.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | S221-6 |
| Journal | Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology |
| Volume | 106 |
| Issue number | 5 Suppl |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2000 |
Keywords
- Animals
- Interferon-gamma
- Humans
- Asthma
- Th2 Cells
- Phenotype
- Bronchi
- Interleukin-2
- Interleukin-4
- Mucous Membrane
- Interleukin-5
- Th1 Cells
- T-Lymphocytes
