Chemokine receptors expression on CD3+ blood cells in bronchial asthma

Chemokines and their receptors participate in pathomechanism of bronchial asthma. The aim of the study was to analyze the pattern of chemokine receptor expression on T cells in severe asthmatics and to compare to mild-to-moderate patients and controls.

Flow cytometric analysis of CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR3, CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CCR7, CCR8 expression on CD3(+)CD8(-) and CD3(+)CD8(+) cells was performed in patients with different severity of chronic asthma and in controls.

Percentages of CD3(+)CD8(+) cells expressing CXCR1 were significantly lower in severe asthmatic than in mild-to-moderate asthmatics and in controls. Percentages of CD3(+)CD8(+) cells expressing CCR7 were significantly lower in the severe asthma group than in control group. Percentages of CD3(+)CD8(-) cells expressing CXCR1, CXCR2 and CCR8 were significantly lower in the severe asthma group than in mild-to-moderate asthmatics and in controls. The number of cells CD3(+)CD8(-) and CD3(+)CD8(+) expressing of CXCR1 was significantly lower in the group of patients using more than 800μg of budesonide daily than in the group of patients using less than 400μg of budesonide. Percentages of CD3(+)CD8(-) cells expressing CXCR3, CCR4 and CCR5 were visibly higher (not significantly) in chronic mild-to-moderate asthma than in healthy controls and severe asthmatics.

These results may indicate impairment of some chemokine expression on T cells in severe asthma patients. Moreover participation of both chemokine receptors related to Th1 and Th2 responses in mild-to-moderate asthma and attenuation of these responses in severe asthma has been suggested.