International Archives of Allergy and Applied Immunology · 2009 · 12 citations · 0 references
Life SciencesImmunologyPathologyAllergyCellular ImmunologyHypersensitivityAllergic DiseaseHelper T Cell SubsetsImmunological MemoryLymphocyte ActivationT Cell ActivationT Cell BiologyActivationAllergic Immune ResponsesImmune Cell Activation MarkersMemory Cytotoxic T LymphocytesNonallergic AsthmaPeripheral Blood Lymphocyte AnalysisT Helper Cells
Abnormalities of peripheral-blood lymphocyte subsets and activation markers were detected in patients with both allergic and nonallergic asthma. Most allergic asthmatics were characterized by increased numbers of IL-2R+ helper T cells and CD23+B cells. In contrast, nonallergic asthmatics showed increased numbers of IL-2R+ and HLA-DR+ helper and cytotoxic T cells, and a clear redistribution from naive (CD45RA+) to memory (CD45RO+) cells. The number of IL-2R+ T cells correlated with the number of CD23+ B cells in allergic asthma. These changes in the distribution and activation state of T cells suggest an active role for T cells in the pathogenesis of both allergic and nonallergic asthma.