Differences in systemic adaptive immunity contribute to the 'frequent exacerbator' COPD phenotype.
Respir Res
; 17(1): 140, 2016 10 28.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27793198
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Some COPD patients are more susceptible to exacerbations than others. Mechanisms underlying these differences in susceptibility are not well understood. We hypothesized that altered cell mediated immune responses may underlie a propensity to suffer from frequent exacerbations in COPD.METHODS:
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from 24 stable COPD patients, eight frequent exacerbators (≥3 diary-card exacerbations/year) and 16 infrequent exacerbators (< 3 diary-card exacerbations/year). Detailed multi-parameter flow cytometry was used to study differences in innate and adaptive systemic immune function between frequent and infrequently exacerbating COPD patients.RESULTS:
The 24 COPD patients had a mean (SD) age of 76.3 (9.4) years and FEV1 1.43 (0.60)L, 53.3 (18.3)% predicted. PBMCs of frequent exacerbators (FE) contained lower frequencies of CD4+ T central memory cells (CD4+ Tcm) compared to infrequent exacerbators (IE) (FE = 18.7 %; IE = 23.9 %; p = 0.035). This observation was also apparent in absolute numbers of CD4+ Tcm cells (FE = 0.17 × 10^6/mL; IE = 0.25 × 10^6/mL; p = 0.035). PBMCs of FE contained a lower frequency of CD8+ T effector memory cells expressing HLA-DR (Human Leukocyte Antigen - D Related) compared to IE COPD patients (FE = 22.7 %; IE = 31.5 %; p = 0.007).CONCLUSION:
Differences in the adaptive systemic immune system might associate with exacerbation susceptibility in the 'frequent exacerbator' COPD phenotype. These differences include fewer CD4+ T central memory cells and CD8+ T effector memory cells. TRIAL REGISTRATION Not applicable.Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Leukocytes, Mononuclear
/
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
/
Immunity, Cellular
/
Immunity, Innate
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Respir Res
Year:
2016
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Netherlands