Source: Annual Congress 2002 - Cell biology and genetics of COPD and emphysema
Disease area: Airway diseases

Abstract

It is well established that cigarette smoking induces an inflammatory response within the lung tissue and that it is mainly the CD8+ T lymphocyte subset that increases in number in smokers that develop airflow limitation. In this study we investigated the T lymphocyte pattern in the lymph nodes of smokers focussing on the relationship between T cell subsets and cigarette consumption or pulmonary function. We examined paratracheal lymph nodes obtained at surgery from 12 smokers undergoing lung resection for localised pulmonary lesions, whose FEV1/VC after bronchodilator ranged from 74 to 117 % predicted. By immunohistochemistry we evaluated CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the area between follicles within the lymph nodes. The values of CD4/CD8 ratio showed a negative correlation with cigarette consumption (p=0.027, r= -0.66) and a positive correlation with the values of FEV1/VC (% predicted) (p=0.037, r= 0.63). Furthermore the number of CD8+ T lymphocytes was negatively correlated with the values of FEV1/VC (% of predicted) (p=0.048, r= -0.60). In conclusion, an increased proportion of CD8+ T lymphocytes similar to that present in lung tissue is also present in the lymph nodes of smokers, and is related with both the degree of airflow limitation and cigarette consumption. This finding suggests that the polarisation of the immune response toward a CD8 phenotype occurs in the regional lymph nodes, possibly as a consequence of the presentation of an antigen that remains unknown.

Rating:

Share or cite this content

Citations should be made in the following way:
S. Baraldo, M. Saetta, R. Zuin, G. Turato, B. Beghè, E. Balestro, G. L. Casoni, C. M. Bellettato, U. Fantoni, S. Lauro, L. M. Fabbri, A. Papi (Padova, Ferrara, Modena, Italy). A decrease in CD4/CD8 ratio in the lymph nodes of smokers is related to airflow limitation and cigarette consumption. Eur Respir J 2002; 20: Suppl. 38, 634

Member's Comments

No comment yet.

Related content which might interest you: Smoking characteristics in smokers with airflow limitation and smokers with normal spirometry Source: Eur Respir J 2002; 20: Suppl. 38, 135s Year: 2002 Factors affecting the development of airflow limitation among cigarette smokers Source: International Congress 2019 – Clinical implications of COPD management Year: 2019 The variable relationship between changes in lung density and FEV1 in smokers Source: International Congress 2017 – Imaging markers for COPD and asthma Year: 2017 Influence of smoking intensity and smoking quitting on lung function parameters in COPD patients Source: Annual Congress 2011 - Smoking cessation science and smoking-related disorders Year: 2011 Decreased pulmonary mature dendritic cells in healthy smokers and smoking COPD patients Source: Eur Respir J 2007; 30: Suppl. 51, 212s Year: 2007 The association of high nicotine metabolism ratio with COPD in smokers undergoing a smoking cessation program. Source: Virtual Congress 2020 – Health effects of inhaled nicotine devices: from smoking to vaping and heated tobacco Year: 2020 Influence of cigarette smoking history on HDAC2 expression in central and peripheral airways in smokers with and without COPD Source: Eur Respir J 2006; 28: Suppl. 50, 190s Year: 2006 Significant increase of CD57+ cells in pulmonary lymphoid follicles of COPD patients Source: Eur Respir J 2011; 37: 289 Year: 2011 Patterns of development of airflow limitation in smokers with preserved spirometry and air trapping phenotype in COPDGene Source: International Congress 2019 – New insights into respiratory function testing Year: 2019 Unaltered MMP-2/TIMP-2 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios in the airways of occasional smokers after acute exposure to cigarette smoke Source: Eur Respir J 2007; 30: Suppl. 51, 584s Year: 2007 Low sputum MMP-9/TIMP ratio is associated with airway narrowing in smokers with asthma Source: Eur Respir J 2014; 44: 895-904 Year: 2014 Bronchial T lymphocyte infiltrate is associated with smoking status in patients with COPD Source: Eur Respir J 2003; 22: Suppl. 45, 549s Year: 2003 Potential association between cigarette smoking and IL-18 levels in induced sputum of healthy and asthma smokers Source: Eur Respir J 2007; 30: Suppl. 51, 363s Year: 2007 Measurement of neutrophil activity following acute cigarette smoking in heavy smokers with and without COPD Source: Annual Congress 2007 - Molecular pathogenesis: focus on COPD and asthma Year: 2007 Variation in the bronchial tree dimension predicts airflow limitation in smokers Source: Annual Congress 2008 - Imaging and measurement techniques in the evaluation of pulmonary embolism, COPD and pleural diseases Year: 2008 Chronic airflow limitation and respiratory symptoms among smokers and never smokers Source: International Congress 2019 – COPD: epidemiology and spirometry Year: 2019 Decreased ant-oxidant capacity with fiber free diet during exposure to cigarette smoke was related with changes in proportion of cecal organic acids in mice Source: Annual Congress 2013 –The vulnerable patient and ageing cells Year: 2013 Increased proportion of Fas positive T-cells in never smoking patients with COPD Source: Annual Congress 2008 - Basic science in asthma and COPD II Year: 2008 Cigarette smoking increases apoptosis of alveolar lymphocytes: data from control group and sarcoidosis patients Source: Annual Congress 2007 - The versatile aspects of nicotine addiction Year: 2007 Relationship of resting lung volume status and dynamic hyperinflation during exercise in the patients with chronic airflow limitation Source: Annual Congress 2003 - Respiratory structure and mechanisms: current concepts Year: 2003