Peripheral T cell functions correlate with the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Adaptive immune processes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We hypothesized that peripheral T cell abnormalities may be present in afflicted patients. We tested this hypothesis by characterizing circulating T cells in COPD patients and correlated these findings with disease severity, smoking status, and use of inhaled glucocorticosteroids (ICS).

Role of T-lymphocytes and pro-inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the US and a major worldwide healthcare problem. The pathophysiologic mechanisms that drive development and progression of this disease are complex and only poorly understood. While tobacco smoking is the primary risk factor, other disease processes also appear to play a role.

Autoantibodies in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: Adaptive immune responses are present in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and it has been postulated that these processes could be autoreactive.

Objectives: To ascertain if humoral autoimmunity could play a role in COPD pathogenesis.

Methods: Circulating IgG autoantibodies were detected by immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation.

Cellular and humoral autoreactivity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a morbid, refractory lung disorder with an unknown pathogenesis. To investigate potential adaptive immune mechanisms in IPF, we compared phenotypes and effector functions of peripheral CD4 T cells, autoantibody production, and proliferative responses of pulmonary hilar lymph node CD4 T cells to autologous lung extracts from afflicted patients and normals. Our results show that greater proportions of peripheral CD4 T lymphocytes in IPF subjects expressed MHC class II and CD154 (CD40L), and they more frequently elaborated TGF-beta1, IL-10, and TNF-alpha.

Hyperresponsiveness to tobacco dust extract in sensitized guinea pig trachea.

The role of pre-existing airway inflammation in the pathogenesis of occupational airway disease is poorly understood. Previously we studied an extract of tobacco dust (TDE) and determined that it causes concentration dependent contractions of nonsensitized guinea pig trachea (GPT). In the present study animals were sensitized using Ovalbumin (OA) and subsequently challenged with an aerosol of 2.

Pharmacologic effects of tobacco dust extract on isolated Guinea pig trachea.

Study Objective: To determine the effects of tobacco dust extract (TDE) on isolated guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle.

Design: A controlled, in vitro smooth-muscle study of the effect of pharmacologic agents on TDE.

Methods: The effect of TDE on isolated guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle was tested using water-soluble extracts of dust obtained from machines in a cigarette manufacturing plant.