Blood Т-cell subpopulations dynamics in asthma under suspended particulate load in vitro

Background . Bronchial asthma (BA) is characterized by dysregulation of the adaptive immune response. A significant contribution to pathological processes in urban environments is made by air pollution with solid suspended particles (HDPE). However, the expression of cytokine (interleukin (IL) 4, 6) and toll-like receptors (TLR) CD8 + cells in BA patients and their dynamics under exposure to atmospheric microtoxicants practically have not been studied. The aim . To determine the features of expression of IL-4R, IL-6R, TLR2, and TLR4 in CD8 + cells in BA of varying severity and under the influence of solid suspended particles of atmospheric air. Materials and methods . The study included 244 patients with asthma, 60 conditionally healthy individuals. Loading with simulated atmospheric suspensions was performed at a dose of 1 microgram (µg) of suspension per 1 ml of blood. The expression of IL-4R, IL-6R, TLR2, and TLR4 on CD8 + cells was analyzed by flow cytofluorometry. Statistical processing of the results was performed in the program “STATISTICA 10.0”. The critical significance level (p) for testing statistical hypotheses was assumed at p < 0.05. Results . The main differences in cell signaling were observed between the group with partially controlled moderate BA and the control group. The expression of IL-4R is particularly strongly increased – by 217 % (p < 0.001), TLR4 – by 103 % (p < 0.001). The same group of patients is characterized by the greatest significance of differences in T-cytotoxic cells in comparison with the group of patients with mild bronchial asthma. IL-4 receptor expression on T-cytotoxic cells increased by 160 % (p < 0.001), TLR4 – by 108 % (p < 0.001). Conclusion . The intensification of receptor expression is observed with an increase in the severity of the disease. The expression of IL-4R and TLR4 changes most intensively in T-cytotoxic cells IL-4R and TLR.