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Updated: Apr 20, 2026
07:52
Analysis of Pulmonary Dendritic Cell Maturation and Migration during Allergic Airway Inflammation
Published on: July 23, 2012
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Respiratory tract dendritic cells in paediatric asthma
R Brugha1, N Mushtaq, N E McCarthy
1Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research, Centre for Paediatrics, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK.
Summary
Children with asthma have more airway dendritic cells (DC) with reduced CD86 expression, indicating altered cell function. This study characterizes DC in paediatric asthma using sputum analysis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pulmonology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Airway dendritic cells (DC) are key players in lung inflammation during asthma.
- Characteristics of DC in healthy children versus those with asthma are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify changes in DC subset distribution and activation in pediatric asthma.
- To analyze induced sputum samples from healthy and asthmatic children using flow cytometry.
Main Methods:
- Spirometry and skin prick tests assessed lung function and atopy.
- Seven-color flow cytometry analyzed induced sputum for airway DC populations.
- DC were identified as lineage(-) HLA-DR(+) cells expressing CD11c (conventional) or CD123 (plasmacytoid).
Main Results:
- DC were found in all sputum samples, with a higher proportion in asthmatic children (1.29% vs. 0.67%).
- Asthmatic children showed significantly reduced CD86 expression on DC (59.7% vs. 73.4%).
- CD1c(+) cells were abundant (57% of DC), with low frequencies of CD141 or CD123 expressing cells.
Conclusions:
- Airway DC can be non-invasively characterized in pediatric sputum using flow cytometry.
- Children with asthma have increased airway DC with reduced CD86 expression.
- Findings suggest altered DC trafficking or maturation in pediatric asthma, potentially influenced by steroid therapy.
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