The production of interferon gamma by natural killer (NK) cells and proportion of NK cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with severe bronchial asthma.
- Author:
Eun Mi CHUN
1
;
Mi Sun KIM
;
Yoon Hae CHANG
;
Sung Sook PARK
;
Young Joo CHO
Author Information
1. Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Ewha Womans Medical Research Center Department of Internal Medicine, MizMedi Hospital*, Chunchun Medical Center**.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
NK cells;
Intracytoplasmic IFN-gamma;
severe asthma
- MeSH:
Antigens, CD56;
Asthma*;
Calcium;
Humans;
Immune System;
Interferons*;
Killer Cells, Natural*;
Pyroglyphidae;
T-Lymphocytes
- From:Journal of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology
2000;20(3):528-534
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The natural killer (NK) cells which play an important role in defense immune system are supposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. The goal of this study is to analyze the role of NK cells in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma by examining the proportion of NK cells in peripheral blood mononucler cells (PBMCs) and production of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in NK cells between normal group and asthmatic group. METHODS: Ten patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma sensitive to house dust mite were enrolled as asthmatic group. PBMCs were activated by 12-0-tetracanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and calcium inonophore for 18 hours. Surface CD3 and CD56 antigens with intracytoplasmic IFN-gamma staining were performed simultaneously and the results were analyzed by three color flow cytometer. RESULTS: The percentage of CD56+ positive NK cells in PBMCs from asthma group was lower compared to control group (15.4+/-3.9% vs 19.8+/-4.5%). However, There was no signficant difference of IFN-gamma production in CD56+ NK cells between two groups (30.3+/-3.9% vs 25.9+/-5.8%, p>0.05). IFN-gammaproducing CD3+ T cells were significantly higher in asthma group compared with normal control group (36.3+/-1.8% vs 28.4+/-5.7%, p<0.05). The ratio of TNK cells expressing both CD56 and CD3 was not different between asthma group and control group (4.7+/-1.4 % vs 5.9+/-1.8%, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that aggravation of asthma symptoms in severe asthma may be caused partly by decrease in NK cells. The increased production of IFN-gamma in asthma patients suggest that IFN-gammamay function as inflammatory cytokine.
