Systemic CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell cytokine profiles correlate with GOLD stage in stable COPD

Eur Respir J. 2012 Aug;40(2):330-7. doi: 10.1183/09031936.00079611. Epub 2011 Dec 19.

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with pulmonary and systemic inflammation. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes play a key role in COPD pathogenesis, but cytokine profiles in circulating T-lymphocytes have not been well characterised. Here we report the analysis of peripheral blood T-cells from 30 stable COPD patients and 10 healthy never-smokers for interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-4, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and the T-helper 17 cytokines IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-22 by intracellular flow cytometry. We found significantly increased proportions of IFN-γ+ and TNF-α+ CD8+ T-cells in COPD patients, when compared with healthy controls. This was most evident in patients with less severe disease. In contrast, expression profiles in circulating CD4+ T-cells were similar in COPD patients and healthy controls for all cytokines tested, except for IL-17F. COPD patients with more severely reduced diffusing capacity had lower proportions of IL-17A+ CD4+ T-cells. Proportions of IL-22+ cells in the CD4+ memory T-cell population were significantly increased in active smokers, when compared with past smokers. Collectively, this comprehensive cytokine analysis of circulating T-cells in COPD patients revealed a correlation for CD8+ T-cells between Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage and IFN-γ or TNF-α expression, but not for CD4+ T-cells.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry / methods
  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-22
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Interleukins / metabolism
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / cytology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / blood*
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / diagnosis
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / metabolism
  • Smoking
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-17
  • Interleukins
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-4