Analysis of lymphocyte profile in lymph nodes, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and peripheral blood in patients with stage II sarcoidosis

Song Mi; Na Cui; Xiaokai Feng; Chunguo Jiang; Kewu Huang; Liming Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2022.107039

Analysis of lymphocyte profile in lymph nodes, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and peripheral blood in patients with stage II sarcoidosis

Respir Med. 2022 Dec:205:107039. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2022.107039. Epub 2022 Nov 8.

Authors

Song Mi¹, Na Cui², Xiaokai Feng², Chunguo Jiang², Kewu Huang³, Liming Zhang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: 15661476@qq.com.
² Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
³ Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: kewuhuang@126.com.
⁴ Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: cyyyzlm@sina.com.

PMID: 36462289
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2022.107039

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the lymphocyte profile (LP) in lymph node puncture fluid (LNPF) of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and peripheral blood (PB) involved in stage 2 sarcoidosis.

Methods: After selection, 31 patients diagnosed with stage II sarcoidosis were finally included. Patients were further divided into symptomatic (n = 17) and asymptomatic (n = 14) groups according to the presence or absence of respiratory symptoms. The LP in lymph node puncture fluid (LNPF), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and peripheral blood (PB) were evaluated and compared using flow cytometry. The relationship between respiratory symptoms and LP was preliminarily analyzed.

Results: The proportions of T cells and CD4 T cells, and CD4/CD8 ratio in BALF were significantly higher than that of LNPF with PB (all P < 0.05). The proportions of lymphocyte cells, CD8 T cells, NK cells, and CD4/CD8 ratio in LNPF and PB were significantly different (all P < 0.05). There were significant differences in CD4 T cells [72.40 (68.90,75.55) vs.46.30 (38.55,52.50), P = 0.004], CD8 T cells (9.9 ± 3.9 vs. 16.8 ± 6.8, P = 0.002), and CD4/CD8 ratio (7.9 ± 2.8 vs. 3.9 ± 1.5, P < 0.001) in BALF between the symptomatic group and asymptomatic group (all P < 0.05). The T cells (rs = 0.447, P = 0.011), CD4 (rs = 0.572, P = 0.002), and CD4/CD8 ratio (rs = 0.701, P < 0.001) in BALF were positively correlated with respiratory symptoms.

Conclusion: The LP in LNPF, BALF and PB were significantly different and the main index correlated with respiratory symptoms was CD4/CD8 ratio in BALF. The difference of LP in BALF and LNPF may help to deeply understand the pathophysiological process and may reflect the different degree of lung and lymph node lesion.

Keywords: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration; Lymph node puncture fluid; Lymphocyte profile; Sarcoidosis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
CD4-CD8 Ratio
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
Humans
Sarcoidosis* / diagnosis