CYTOKINE PRODUCTION BY T-CELL CLONES FROM BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH ASTHMA AND HEALTHY-SUBJECTS

Cytokines produced by T-lymphocytes play an important regulatory role in inflammation in the airways of asthmatic patients, Our aim was to a nalyse the cytokine production by T-cell clones from bronchoalveolar l avage fluid (BAL) of patients with allergic asthma and the cytokine pr oduction of clones from the patients' peripheral blood (PB), as well a s from BAL and blood from healthy controls. In 75 randomly selected CD 4+ T-cell clones, we assessed the production of interleukin (IL)-2, IL -4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). After stimulation with anti-CD3, the clones from the asthmatic patients' BAL (A-BAL) produced significa ntly more IL-4 and IFN-gamma (median 0.32 and 4.17 ng . mL(-1), respec tively) than clones from A-PB (0.11 and 1.12 ng . mL(-1), respectively ), No evidence was found for a dominance of a type 1 or type 2 T-helpe r cell (Th1- or Th2)-cytokine profile in any of the groups, In three o ut of nine clones tested, the stimulation with anti-CD2/CD28/phorbol m yristate acetate (PMA) induced a shift of the IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio tow ards a Th2-type cytokine profile. Our results suggest that the clones from the asthmatic patients' bronchoalveolar lavage were derived from a more differentiated T-cell population, In several clones, the cytoki ne profile was still modulated by the stimulus applied, Similarly, loc al conditions in the airways may be involved in directing the cytokine production of T-cells.