Abstract
Background. Fas/FasL pathway is considered to play an important role in the apoptosis of immune cells, including T-cells. However its role has not been studied in non-smoking patients with COPD.
Aim. To evaluate the proportion of T-lymphocytes expressing Fas (CD95) and sFasL level in peripheral blood of non-smoking and smoking patients with COPD.
Methods. We examined 21 non-smokers with COPD, 20 smokers with COPD, 20 healthy non-smokers and 21 healthy smokers. For analysis of lymphocytes subtypes the flow cytometry was used. The level of sFasL in plasma was measuredby ELISA.
Results. There was an increase in blood T-cells expressing Fas receptors in patients with COPD irrespective of smoking status. Increased proportion of CD8+CD95+ cells and elevated level of sFasL were observed only in non-smoking COPD patients compared to non-smoking healthy control subjects. The percentages of CD3+CD95+ and CD8+CD95+ lymphocytes and sFas level were significantly higher in blood of non-smoking patients with COPD compared to COPD smokers. There was a significant positive correlation between level of sFasL and proportions of CD3+CD95+ and CD8+CD95+ cells in the combined group (smokers and non-smokers) of patients with COPD. Patients (smokers and non-smokers combined) with high and very high impact level of COPD on health status (according to the results of CAT, COPD Assessment Test) had significantly higher proportion of CD95+ T-cells than patients with low and medium impact level.
Conclusion. The results of the study indicate smoking-independent alterations in expression ofCD95+ on blood T-cells in COPD patients and reveal some differences in the pathogenesis of COPD between smokers and non-smokers.
- © 2014 ERS