PERIPHERAL-BLOOD T-LYMPHOCYTES IN SEASONAL BRONCHIAL-ASTHMA

Variations in T lymphocytes in asthmatic patients are related to disea se severity. However, the effects of natural exposure to pollens on pe ripheral blood T lymphocytes have not been clarified. In this paper, t he effects on peripheral blood CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes from pollen-sen sitive subjects and from nonatopic donors were studied during and outs ide the pollen season. In patients who suffer from seasonal asthma, we found an increase in the CD4/CD8 bright ratio and a decrease in the m ean number of CD4 receptors per cell during the pollen season. No vari ation was observed in healthy subjects. These results suggest that CD4 lymphocytes may be causally linked to the pathogenesis of seasonal br onchial asthma.