The expression of lymphocyte surface antigens in bronchial biopsies, bronchoalveolar lavage cells and blood cells in healthy smoking and never-smoking men, 60 years old

In this study we investigated if smoking subjects with a normal or slightly decreased lung function differ in the lymphocyte pattern compared to never -smokers. In a group of 'healthy' smokers (n = 58) and never-smokers (n = 3 4) 60 years old, we investigated the lymphocyte pattern in both BAL (n = 30 and n = 18 respectively), bronchial epithelium and lamina propria (n = 14 and n = 10 respectively) and blood. We found that all subjects, despite smoking history, had a higher number of CD8+ cells per mm(2) in the epithelium compared to the lamina propria in t he bronchial biopsies. In smokers, these CD8+ cells were significantly nega tively correlated to FEV1 (r= -0.56, P=0.04). In smokers, the number of CD8 + lymphocytes was higher and the I cell activation markers (CD57 + and CD28 +) were lower in BAL, than in never-smokers. This last finding was also se en in blood for CD3+ 57+. We conclude. that in 'healthy' smokers the lymphocyte patterns are differen t compared to never-smokers, to some extent in BAL. There is also a relatio n between lymphocytes in the bronchial mucosa and lung function. This has p reviously been shown in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic bronchitis but not in asymptomatic smokers.