Authors: BORGER¹; TEN HACKEN,²; VELLENGA³; KAUFFMAN¹; POSTMA²

Source: Clinical & Experimental Allergy, Volume 29, Number 6, June 1999 , pp. 772-779(8)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Background

The TH2-like cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 play a pivotal role in airway wall inflammation in asthma and these cytokines are increased in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from asthmatic patients. It is unclear why specifically TH2-like cytokines are increased in asthmatic patients. A possible explanation may be an impaired adenylyl cyclase activity, which has been observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of asthmatics. Objective

To assess interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA expressions and their control by prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), which activates adenylyl cyclases, of peripheral T lymphocytes from patients with moderately severe asthma and healthy controls. Methods

Peripheral blood T lymphocytes from asthmatics and healthy controls were isolated and stimulated with antibodies against CD3 plus CD28 in the absence and presence of increasing concentrations of PGE₂. IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA levels were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results

In contrast to IFN-γ mRNA, IL-4 (P = 0.03, n = 8) and IL-5 (P < 0.05, n = 5) mRNAs in the asthma group were significantly higher than in controls (n = 4). In addition, IL-5 showed a significant inverse correlation with forced expiratory volume (FEV₁) (P < 0.04, n = 5), whereas IL-4 positively correlated with PC₂₀adenosine-monophosphate (AMP) (P < 0.02, n = 8). Accumulation of mRNA for IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA were significantly diminished by 10⁻⁵ mPGE₂ in both asthmatics and controls. In contrast, 10⁻⁶ mPGE₂ significantly down-regulated IFN-γ and IL-4 mRNAs (P < 0.05 for both IFN-γ and IL-4, n = 4) in the control group, whereas this was not observed for IL-4 mRNA in the asthma group (n = 7). Conclusions

Activated peripheral blood T lymphocytes from asthma patients display higher levels of IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA in vitro, which may be due to a diminished activity of adenylyl cyclase. A new observation is that higher IL-4 mRNA levels are associated with less severe AMP responsiveness, which might be due to a negative feedback loop of IL-4 production by mast cells.

Keywords: asthma; T lymphocytes; adenylyl cyclase; prostaglandin E2; interferon-γ; interleukin-4; interleukin-5

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2222.1999.00478.x

Affiliations: 1: Allergology, 2: Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Groningen, The Netherlands 3: Hematology,

Publication date: 1999-06-01

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Allergy & Immunology
• By this author: BORGER ;  TEN HACKEN, ;  VELLENGA ;  KAUFFMAN ;  POSTMA

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers