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The Role of the T lymphocytes and Remodeling in Asthma

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Abstract

In allergic asthma (AA), inflammatory changes in the airway epithelium may contribute to the characteristic pathophysiology and symptoms. The presence of T lymphocytes, eosinophils, mast cells and macrophages, the presence of cytokines, and also structural changes in the airway mucous membrane are characteristic for asthma. Bronchial biopsy specimens were obtained from 33 AA, 25 nonallergic asthma (NAA), and 20 healthy controls (HC). This study used immunohistochemical techniques for identified monoclonal antibodies (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25, ECP, MBP, tenascin, and laminin) in the bronchi. The highest number of eosinophils and T lymphocyte cells in bronchial biopsies was found in AA, and NAA. The number of T lymphocytes in AA was significantly higher than in NAA and HC. The degree of epithelial damage was higher in the AA group compared to the other groups. The tenascin- and laminin-positive layers in AA were thicker than other groups. In AA, a significant negative correlation was found between epithelial integrity and the count for eosinophils or T lymphocytes. T lymphocytes and eosinophils in AA were found in the area of epithelial and lamina propria damage. This article suggests that T lymphocytes may not only contribute to the chronic airway inflammatory response, airway remodeling, and symptomatology but may also have a central role at the initiation of the allergic immune response. Th-targeted therapy would be of considerable interest in controlling AA. Having more knowledge on the roles of T lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation highlights the contributions of these cells in regulating and may lead to a new therapeutic target—AA.

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Acknowledgments

We are thankful for giving ECP from professor Per Venge, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Further, we thank the following institution for kindly giving us permission to bronchial biopsies were obtained at the Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology and Clinical Chemistry at Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. This study was supported by Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala and Bror Hjerpstedt Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Science, Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Clinical Chemistry and Asthma Research Centre, Uppsala University and University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden

    Kawa Amin

  2. Department of Medical Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Science, University of Suleimani, Sulaimania, Iraq

    Kawa Amin

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  1. Kawa Amin
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Correspondence to Kawa Amin.

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The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the ethics committee at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Uppsala.

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The author declares that there are no competing interests.

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Amin, K. The Role of the T lymphocytes and Remodeling in Asthma. Inflammation 39, 1475–1482 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-016-0380-9

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