M. Raulf-heimsoth et al., T-cell receptor repertoire expression in workers with occupational asthma due to platinum salt, EUR RESP J, 16(5), 2000, pp. 871-878
There is a high incidence of asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and contact u
rticaria in workers of precious metal refineries. Symptoms are closely asso
ciated,vith sensitization to halogenated platinum compounds, as assessed by
skin-prick test. The aim of the present study was to examine the molecular
mechanisms involved by describing the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire dis
tribution of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) without and after i
n vitro stimulation with sodium hexachloroplatinate.
PBMCs of 17 sensitized subjects,vith work-related asthma and a positive ski
n-prick test result to sodium hexachloroplatinate and of 15 nonexposed subj
ects were isolated and TCR expression determined by flow cytometry. Further
more, the sodium hexachloroplatinate-mediated in vitro effects on the frequ
ency of V beta -expressing T-cells, the proliferation response and the expr
ession of cell surface molecules like CD71, CD25, CD95 and HLA-DR were stud
ied.
CD3-positive lymphocytes of platinum salt-sensitized workers had a signific
antly higher frequency of V alpha 2a+, V beta 11+ and V beta 21.3+ T-cells
than controls (p<0.01, p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively), III vitro stimulat
ion of PBMCs from platinum salt-sensitized as well as control subjects with
sodium hexachloroplatinate increased the percentage of CD3-positive cells
bearing specific TCRs, especially V<beta>5.3, V beta6.7, V beta 8a, V beta
20 and V beta 21.3. This effect was time- and dose-dependent.
The present results indicate that the frequencies of V alpha 2a-, V beta 11
and V beta 21.3-bearing blood T-cells and platinum salt-induced lymphocyte
proliferation are strongly enhanced in subjects who suffer from asthma due
to platinum salt. In addition, in vitro stimulation with sodium hexachloro
platinate modulates the frequencies of certain T-cell receptor-bearing T-ce
lls.