Background: There is an increased number of activated T lymphocytes in the bronchial mucosa of stable COPD patients but are absent studies on Th17 cells and their effector cytokines. Objectives: To investigate the expression of retinoic orphan receptor (ROR)C2, interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22 and IL-23 in bronchial biopsies from patients with stable COPD of different severity (stage 2 to 4) compared with age-matched control subjects (smokers with normal lung function and lifelong non-smokers). Methods: The expression of RORC2, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22 and IL-23 was measured in the bronchial mucosa using immunohistochemistry and/or real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The number of IL-22+ and IL-23+ immunoreactive cells is increased in the bronchial epithelium of stable COPD compared with control groups. In addition, the number of IL-17A+ and IL-22+ immunoreactive cells is increased in the bronchial submucosa of stable COPD compared with control non-smokers. In all smokers with and without disease and in patients with COPD alone the number of IL-22+ cells is correlated significantly with the number of both CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the the bronchial mucosa. The expression of the RORC2 mRNA in the bronchial mucosa was not significantly different between smokers with normal lung function and COPD. Conclusion: The increased expression of the Th17-related cytokines IL-17A, IL- 22 and IL-23 may be involved in the recruitment and activation of lymphocytes populating the bronchial mucosa and in the host defence developing in patients with stable COPD.
Th17-related cytokine expression is increased in the bronchial mucosa of stable COPD patients
CARAMORI, Gaetano;CONTOLI, Marco;CASOLARI, Paolo;PAPI, Alberto;
2009
Abstract
Background: There is an increased number of activated T lymphocytes in the bronchial mucosa of stable COPD patients but are absent studies on Th17 cells and their effector cytokines. Objectives: To investigate the expression of retinoic orphan receptor (ROR)C2, interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22 and IL-23 in bronchial biopsies from patients with stable COPD of different severity (stage 2 to 4) compared with age-matched control subjects (smokers with normal lung function and lifelong non-smokers). Methods: The expression of RORC2, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22 and IL-23 was measured in the bronchial mucosa using immunohistochemistry and/or real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The number of IL-22+ and IL-23+ immunoreactive cells is increased in the bronchial epithelium of stable COPD compared with control groups. In addition, the number of IL-17A+ and IL-22+ immunoreactive cells is increased in the bronchial submucosa of stable COPD compared with control non-smokers. In all smokers with and without disease and in patients with COPD alone the number of IL-22+ cells is correlated significantly with the number of both CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the the bronchial mucosa. The expression of the RORC2 mRNA in the bronchial mucosa was not significantly different between smokers with normal lung function and COPD. Conclusion: The increased expression of the Th17-related cytokines IL-17A, IL- 22 and IL-23 may be involved in the recruitment and activation of lymphocytes populating the bronchial mucosa and in the host defence developing in patients with stable COPD.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
