Activation status of airway immune cells is a defining feature of severe asthma, regardless of fungal sensitisation

Airborne fungi are potent inducers of respiratory disease and cause the debilitating conditions severe asthma with fungal sensitisation (SAFS) and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). However, the immune cell types and the inflammatory airway environment that defines SAFS and ABPA patients is not extensively characterised. To address this, we recruited SAFS and ABPA patients, asthmatics without evidence of fungal sensitisation and healthy controls (n = 20 individuals per group). Immune cells were isolated from collected sputum and peripheral blood samples and immunophenotyping was performed via flow cytometry. By applying a machine learning approach to our dataset, we identify a critical association between CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells, type 2 conventional dendritic cells, eosinophils, proinflammatory factors and severe respiratory disease. These complex immune signatures should be investigated further to improve the diagnostics and treatment of SAFS and ABPA.

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Publication Details

Journal
Mucosal Immunology
Published
2025-11-20
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mucimm.2025.11.004
Primary Topic
Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Activation status of airway immune cells is a defining feature of severe asthma, regardless of fungal sensitisation

Peter C. Cook, Robert Niven, Angela Simpson, G Tavernier et al.
Mucosal Immunology
Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
article

Activation status of airway immune cells is a defining feature of severe asthma, regardless of fungal sensitisation

Peter C. Cook, Robert Niven, Angela Simpson, G Tavernier, Hazel Platt, Tracy Hussell, William Horsnell, Sheila Brown, David W. Denning, Matthew Steward, Stefano A. P. Colombo, Saba Khan, Andrew S. MacDonald, Helen Francis, Emily L Plumpton
article en

Abstract

Airborne fungi are potent inducers of respiratory disease and cause the debilitating conditions severe asthma with fungal sensitisation (SAFS) and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). However, the immune cell types and the inflammatory airway environment that defines SAFS and ABPA patients is not extensively characterised. To address this, we recruited SAFS and ABPA patients, asthmatics without evidence of fungal sensitisation and healthy controls (n = 20 individuals per group). Immune cells were isolated from collected sputum and peripheral blood samples and immunophenotyping was performed via flow cytometry. By applying a machine learning approach to our dataset, we identify a critical association between CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells, type 2 conventional dendritic cells, eosinophils, proinflammatory factors and severe respiratory disease. These complex immune signatures should be investigated further to improve the diagnostics and treatment of SAFS and ABPA.

Mucosal ImmunologyVol. 19(1)
University of Exeter (GB), Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (GB), University of Manchester (GB), Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (ZA), Centre for Inflammation Research (GB)
Openalex Percentile: Top 55%
Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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