Journal Article

Large airway T cells in adults with former bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Reinke, Nichole Stacey, Um-Bergström, Petra, Melén, Erik, Wheelock, Åsa M, Kaarteenaho, Riitta, Pourbazargan, Melvin, Li, ChuanXing, Anders, Lindén, Ortiz-Villalon, Cristian, Sköld, Magnus Carl, Berggren-Broström, Eva, Merikallio, Heta, Gao, Jing, Rassidakis, Georgios, Wheelock, Craig E

2024

Overview

Background Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) in infants born prematurely is a risk factor for chronic airway obstruction later in life. The distribution of T cell subtypes in the large airways is largely unknown. Objective To characterize cellular and T cell profiles in the large airways of young adults with a history of BPD. Methods Forty-three young adults born prematurely (preterm ( n  = 20), BPD ( n  = 23)) and 45 full-term-born (asthma ( n  = 23), healthy ( n  = 22)) underwent lung function measurements, and bronchoscopy with large airway bronchial wash (BW). T-cells subsets in BW were analyzed by immunocytochemistry. Results The proportions of both lymphocytes and CD8 + T cells in BW were significantly higher in BPD (median, 6.6%, and 78.0%) when compared with asthma (3.4% and 67.8%, p  = 0.002 and p  = 0.040) and healthy (3.8% and 40%, p  < 0.001 and p  < 0.001). In all adults born prematurely (preterm and BPD), lymphocyte proportion correlated negatively with forced vital capacity ( r = -0.324, p  = 0.036) and CD8 + T cells correlated with forced expiratory volume in one second, FEV 1 ( r =-0.448, p  = 0.048). Correlation-based network analysis revealed that lung function cluster and BPD-birth cluster were associated with lymphocytes and/or CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. Multivariate regression analysis showed that lymphocyte proportions and BPD severity qualified as independent factors associated with FEV 1 . Conclusions The increased cytotoxic T cells in the large airways in young adults with former BPD, suggest a similar T-cell subset pattern as in the small airways, resembling features of COPD. Our findings strengthen the hypothesis that mechanisms involving adaptive and innate immune responses are involved in the development of airway disease due to preterm birth. What is already known on this topic Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) in infants born prematurely is a risk factor for chronic airway obstruction in adulthood. Cytotoxic T cells are increased in bronchoalveolar lavage in adults with former BPD. What this study adds We are able to demonstrate that inflammatory cell profiles in the bronchial wash from the large airway of preterm adults differ from healthy subjects born at term. Subjects with a history of BPD display an increased proportion of lymphocytes, mainly CD8 + T cells, and a lower proportion of CD4 + T cells. Furthermore, the number of cytotoxic T cells is associated with lung function. How this study might affect research practice and/or policy This study provides evidence of an immunological profile characterized by increased cytotoxic T cells in adults born prematurely, which suggests the involvement of both adaptive and innate immune mechanisms in the development of airway disease associated with preterm birth.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Nature Publishing Group,BMC
• Subject: Adults / Airway management / Allergic diseases / Analysis / Asthma / Birth / Birth weight / Bronchial wash / Bronchopulmonary dysplasia / Bronchoscopy / Bronchus / Care and treatment / CD4 antigen / CD8 antigen / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / Cloning / Clusters / Complications and side effects / Correlation / Cytotoxicity / Dysplasia / Gestational age / Immunocytochemistry / Immunology / Infants / Innate immunity / Lavage / Lung diseases / Lungs / Lymphocytes / Lymphocytes T / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Network analysis / Neutrophils / Pneumology/Respiratory System / Postpartum period / Premature birth / Prevention / Pulmonary function tests / Regression analysis / Respiratory function / Respiratory tract diseases / Risk factors / T cells / Young adults