PMID: 9186987Mar 1, 1997Paper

Is the different T helper cell activity in sarcoidosis and extrinsic allergic alveolitis also reflected by the cellular bronchoalveolar lavage fluid profile?

Sarcoidosis, Vasculitis, and Diffuse Lung Diseases : Official Journal of WASOG
Marjolein DrentJ M van den Bosch

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is generally characterized by a CD4+ lymphocyte predominance in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), whereas in extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) a CD8+ lymphocyte predominance is found. However, we have previously demonstrated an increase in CD4+ lymphocytes in BALF obtained from EAA patients as well. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether in sarcoidosis and EAA the BALF cellular profile-even without the help of cytokine detection-might reflect differences in the CD4+ T-lymphocyte subpopulations, i.e. T helper (TH)-1 and TH2 lymphocytes. For this purpose, we analyzed BALF analysis results obtained from 77 nonsmoking patients with histologically proven sarcoidosis and 54 nonsmoking patients suffering from EAA. Patients with EAA showed the highest mean absolute numbers of lymphocytes, CD8+ as well as CD4+ T lymphocytes, whereas the percentage of CD4+ T lymphocytes in BALF was low. In contrast, patients with sarcoidosis showed the lowest absolute and relative number of CD8+ T lymphocytes, the highest percentage of CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ ratio. Moreover, patients with Löfgren's syndrome demonstrated an alveolitis suggesting a TH1 lymphocyte-subset-like predominant related profile, characterized by lo...Continue Reading

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