1. Moraxella catarrhalis-specific Th1 cells in BAL fluids of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
- Author
-
Amedei A, Della Bella C, Niccolai E, Stanflin N, Benagiano M, Duranti R, Del Prete G, Murphy TF, and D'Elios MM
- Subjects
- Aged, Antigens, Bacterial immunology, Apoptosis, B-Lymphocytes immunology, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid cytology, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid immunology, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid microbiology, Cells, Cultured, Coculture Techniques, Cytokines metabolism, Cytotoxicity, Immunologic, Female, Humans, Immunoglobulin A biosynthesis, Immunoglobulin G biosynthesis, Immunophenotyping, Male, Matrix Metalloproteinase 12 metabolism, Middle Aged, Monocytes enzymology, Monocytes immunology, Moraxella catarrhalis isolation & purification, Moraxellaceae Infections microbiology, Moraxellaceae Infections pathology, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive microbiology, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive pathology, Th1 Cells microbiology, Lymphocyte Activation, Moraxella catarrhalis immunology, Moraxellaceae Infections immunology, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive immunology, Th1 Cells immunology
- Abstract
In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients airway mucosa is infiltrated by macrophages and T lymphocytes, potentially reactive to pathogens. We studied the antigen-specificity and the effector functions of in vivo activated T lymphocytes isolated from BAL (Bronchoalveolar lavage) of 5 Moraxella catarrhalis (Mc)-infected and 5 Mc-non-infected COPD patients. Mc-specific T cells were detected only in BAL or peripheral blood of Moraxella catarrhalis-infected patients. The majority of BAL Mc-specific T cells expressed the T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokine profile with high cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic activity. Upon antigen stimulation, all Mc-specific T clones were able to help the immunoglobulin production by autologous B cells and the MMP (Matrix MetalloProteinase)-12 activity by monocytes. Our results suggest a role for Th1-driven response to Moraxella catarrhalis in the genesis of COPD.
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF