Features of immune status in patients with severe bronchial asthma

Aim. To determine the level of IgA and IgG to estradiol, progesterone, and benzo[a]pyrene in women with or without preterm labor and to assess whether the administration of progestagens affect these parameters.

Aim. To assess the immunological parameters in severe bronchial asthma in relation to the phenotype and endotype of inflammation.

Materials and Methods. We examined 40 patients with severe bronchial asthma, further stratified by phenotype (allergic asthma and fixed airflow obstruction asthma) and 17 healthy volunteers. Bronchial obstruction was clinically estimated by the day/night asthma attack count or number of β₂-agonists inhalations per day. The number of CD4⁺, CD3⁺, CD19⁺, CD8⁺, CD3⁺, HLADR⁺, CD45RA⁺, CD4⁺, CD3⁺, CD16⁺, and CD56⁺ lymphocytes was determined using flow cytometry. Measurement of serum IL-4 and IL-5 was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results. Patients with severe bronchial asthma showed an increase in naive T-lymphocytes and HLA-DR⁺ lymphocytes in comparison with healthy blood donors. In addition, an increase in serum of IL-4 and total IgE was found in patients with asthma. Patients with severe bronchial asthma and > 300 eosinophils/pL were characterised by an increase in CD4⁺ lymphocytes, NK (CD16⁺CD56⁺) cells, and higher ratio of CD4⁺ to CD8⁺ T-lympho-cytes.

Conclusion. Further research on asthma development should be focused on the role of NK cells in the inflammation and their association with eosinophils.

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