The expression of lymphocyte surface antigens in bronchial biopsies, bronchoalveolar lavage cells and blood cells in healthy smoking and never-smoking men, 60 years old

Abstract

In this study we investigated if smoking subjects with a normal or slightly decreased lung function differ in the lymphocyte pattern compared to never-smokers. In a group of 'healthy' smokers (n = 58) and never-smokers (n = 34) 60 years old, we investigated the lymphocyte pattern in both BAL (n = 30 and n = 18 respectively), bronchial epithelium and lamina propria (n = 14 and n = 10 respectively) and blood. We found that all subjects, despite smoking history, had a higher number of CD8+ cells per mm2 in the epithelium compared to the lamina propria in the bronchial biopsies. In smokers, these CD8+ cells were significantly negatively correlated to FEV1 (r = -0.56, P = 0.04). In smokers, the number of CD8+ lymphocytes was higher and the T cell activation markers (CD57+ and CD28+) were lower in BAL, than in never-smokers. This last finding was also seen in blood for CD3+ 57+. We conclude, that in 'healthy' smokers the lymphocyte patterns are different compared to never-smokers, to some extent in BAL. There is also a relation between lymphocytes in the bronchial mucosa and lung function. This has previously been shown in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic bronchitis but not in asymptomatic smokers.

Bronchoalveolar lavage, sputum and exhaled clinically relevant inflammatory markers: values in healthy adults

“…Focusing on studies on normal values, nine studies specifically designed to provide data on BAL cellular normal reference values in adult subjects, fulfilling the current literature search criteria, have been published as observational studies (table 2) [26, [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]. Eight of these were performed in North America and only one in Europe [35].…”

“…Eight of these were performed in North America and only one in Europe [35]. All except one were mono-institutional.…”

“…Most of the subjects were male, nonsmokers and aged ,50 yrs. Only four studies specifically evaluated the influence of age on BAL characteristics [26,[33][34][35], and most of the subjects concerned were nonsmokers. Since the vast majority of the studies were from North America, in particular the USA, it is not surprising that in some cases volunteers were reimbursed for participation.…”

“…One study excluded the first aliquot from analysis [35]. The majority of studies employed cyto-centrifuge to obtain cell differential counts, i.e.…”

Blunted T-lymphocyte response in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“…Likewise MAJO et al [21] found an increased percentage of cd T-lymphocytes in the lung parenchyma of smokers. Finally, EKBERG-JANSSON et al [22] evaluated cd T-cells in peripheral blood and BAL samples, and also found a trend towards higher levels of cd T-cells in smokers with normal lung function. The present study confirms that, compared with never-smokers, smokers with normal lung function show a prominent upregulation of cd T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood and, particularly, in BAL.…”