Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2009 Oct-Dec;22(4):979-90. doi: 10.1177/039463200902200413.
In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients airway mucosa is infiltrated by macrophages and T lymphocytes, potentially reactive to pathogens. We studied the antigen-specificity and the effector functions of in vivo activated T lymphocytes isolated from BAL (Bronchoalveolar lavage) of 5 Moraxella catarrhalis (Mc)-infected and 5 Mc-non-infected COPD patients. Mc-specific T cells were detected only in BAL or peripheral blood of Moraxella catarrhalis-infected patients. The majority of BAL Mc-specific T cells expressed the T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokine profile with high cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic activity. Upon antigen stimulation, all Mc-specific T clones were able to help the immunoglobulin production by autologous B cells and the MMP (Matrix MetalloProteinase)-12 activity by monocytes. Our results suggest a role for Th1-driven response to Moraxella catarrhalis in the genesis of COPD.
在慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）患者中，气道黏膜被巨噬细胞和 T 淋巴细胞浸润，这些细胞可能对病原体产生反应。我们研究了从 5 例黏膜炎莫拉菌（Mc）感染和 5 例非感染 COPD 患者的支气管肺泡灌洗液（BAL）中分离的体内激活的 T 淋巴细胞的抗原特异性和效应功能。只有在黏膜炎莫拉菌感染患者的 BAL 或外周血中才能检测到 Mc 特异性 T 细胞。大多数 BAL Mc 特异性 T 细胞表达 Th1 细胞因子谱，具有高细胞毒性和促凋亡活性。在抗原刺激下，所有 Mc 特异性 T 克隆均能够帮助自身 B 细胞产生免疫球蛋白和单核细胞 MMP（基质金属蛋白酶）-12 活性。我们的研究结果表明，Th1 驱动的对黏膜炎莫拉菌的反应在 COPD 的发生中起作用。
