Activated CD8+ T cells and natural killer T cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in hypersensitivity pneumonitis and sarcoidosis

Activated CD8+ T cells and natural killer T cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in hypersensitivity pneumonitis and sarcoidosis

Authors

  • Anders Tøndell Department of thoracic medicine St.Olavs University Hospital and Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
  • Anne Dorthea Rø Department of immunology and transfusion medicine, St.Olavs University Hospital
  • Magne Børset Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
  • Moen Torolf Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
  • Malcolm Sue-Chu Department of thoracic medicine St.Olavs University Hospital and Department of Circulation and Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Keywords:

BALF, Hypersensitivity pneumonitis, Sarcoidosis, NKT cells, HLA-DR, lymphocyte subsets.

Abstract

Background: Sarcoidosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis are diffuse parenchymal lung diseases characterized by formation of non-caseating granulomas with a bronchocentric distribution. Analysis of the white blood cell differential profile in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid can be a useful supplement in the diagnostic work-up.

Objective: Diagnostic markers that can improve the discrimination of sarcoidosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis are wanted.

Methods: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid fractions of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing the activation marker HLA-DR and fractions of natural killer T cells determined by flow cytometry were investigated in sarcoidosis (N=83), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (N=10)  and healthy control subjects (N=15).

Results: In hypersensitivity pneumonitis, natural killer T cell fractions were over 7-fold greater [median (IQR): 5.5% (3.5-8.1) versus 0.7% (0.5-1.2), p<0.0001], and HLA-DR+ fractions of CD8+ lymphocytes were almost two fold greater [median (IQR): 79% (75-82) versus 43% (34-52), p<0.0001] than in sarcoidosis. In healthy control subjects, natural killer T cell fractions of leucocytes and HLA-DR+ fractions of CD8+ lymphocytes were lower [median (IQR): 0.3% (0.3-0.6)  and 30% (26-34), p=0.02 and p=0.01 compared to sarcoidosis]. The combined use of these two markers seems to discriminate the diseases very well.

Conclusion: This study suggests a role for the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid lymphocyte subsets HLA-DR+ CD8+ T cells and natural killer T cells in the diagnostic work up of sarcoidosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

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Published

05-01-2015

Issue

Vol. 31 No. 4 (2014)

Section

Original Articles: Clinical Research

License

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How to Cite

1.
Tøndell A, Rø AD, Børset M, Torolf M, Sue-Chu M. Activated CD8+ T cells and natural killer T cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in hypersensitivity pneumonitis and sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis [Internet]. 2015 Jan. 5 [cited 2025 Aug. 21];31(4):316-24. Available from: https://mail.mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/sarcoidosis/article/view/3367