Peripheral blood dendritic cell subtypes are significantly elevated in subjects with asthma

M. Spears (Lead / Corresponding author), C. Mcsharry, I. Donnelly, L. Jolly, M. Brannigan, J. Thomson, J. Lafferty, R. Chaudhuri, M. C. Shepherd, E. Cameron, N. C. Thomson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial for the processing of antigens, T lymphocyte priming and the development of asthma and allergy. Smokers with asthma display altered therapeutic behaviour and a reduction in endobronchial DC CD83 expression compared with non-smokers with asthma. No information is available on the impact of smoking on peripheral blood DC profiles.

Objective: Determine peripheral blood DC profiles in subjects with and without asthma with differing smoking histories. Methods Forty-three asthmatics (17 smokers, nine ex-smokers and 17 never-smokers) and 16 healthy volunteers (nine smokers and seven never-smokers) were recruited. Spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide and venesection was performed. DC elution was by flow cytometry via the expression of DC surface markers [plasmacytoid (pDC) (BDCA-2, CD303), type 1 conventional (cDC) (BDCA-1, CD1c), and type 2 cDC (BDCA-3, CD141)]. 

Results: Subjects with asthma displayed increases in all DC subtypes compared with normal never-smokers: [type 1 cDCs - asthma [median% (IQR)]: 0.59% (0.41, 0.74), normal never-smokers: 0.35% (0.26, 0.43), P=0.013]; type 2 cDCs - asthma: 0.04% (0.02, 0.06), normal never-smokers: 0.02% (0.01, 0.03), P=0.008 and pDCs - asthma: 0.32% (0.27, 0.46), normal never-smokers: 0.22% (0.17, 0.31), P=0.043, and increased pDC and type 1 cDCs compared with normal smokers. Smoking did not affect DC proportions in asthma. Cigarette smoking reduced pDC proportions in normal subjects [normal never-smokers: 0.22% (0.17, 0.31); normal smokers: 0.09% (0.08, 0.15), P=0.003]. 

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: This study shows for the first time that subjects with asthma display a large increase in peripheral blood DC proportions. Cigarette smoking in asthma did not affect the peripheral blood DC profile but did suppress pDC proportions in non-asthmatic subjects. Asthma is associated with a significant increase in circulating DCs, reflecting increased endobronchial levels and the importance of DCs to the development and maintenance of asthma. (Clinical trials.gov identifier: NCT00411320)

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)665-672
Number of pages8
JournalClinical and Experimental Allergy
Volume41
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2011

Keywords

  • Asthma
  • Classical
  • Dendritic cells
  • Myeloid
  • Plasmacytoid
  • Smoking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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