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;
2009-01-01

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.
2009
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11570/3114172
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