Regulatory T Cells in COPD

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Lymphoid follicles, consisting of T-and B cells, are involved in the chronic inflammatory response in COPD. Foxp3 positive regulatory T cells (Tregs) are present in these follicles and may be involved in the suppression of this chronic inflammatory response. We hypothesise that a dysfunction of Tregs underlies the development of the inflammatory response in COPD. This could be either due to a decreased presence of Tregs in COPD, or to an altered function of Tregs possibly caused by a decreased HO-1 expression and/or an altered TGFβ regulation.

Detailed Description
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COPD is a leading cause of death worldwide and its morbidity and mortality are still rising.So far, no effective treatment is available To find better treatment methods more insight is needed in the nature/origin of the chronic inflammation that underlies the development of COPD. The important role of neutrophils, macrophages and cytotoxic T cells is well established in this respect, yet the role of CD4 T cells and B cells has only recently (re)attracted attention. We detected the presence of lymphoid follicles in lung tissue of COPD patients, consisting of B cells surrounded by T cells. Recently, we have found the presence of Foxp3 positive T cells as a component of these lymphoid follicles in COPD. Since Foxp3 is a distinctive marker of regulatory T cells (Tregs), this finding suggests that Tregs are involved in the inflammatory response in COPD. Tregs are important in controlling immunological tolerance and preventing auto-immune responses by inhibiting T-cell responses. Dysfunction of Tregs can lead to auto-immune diseases, allergy and chronic inflammatory diseases. However, nothing is known so far about their contribution to the chronic inflammatory response in COPD. Recent studies show that, next to direct inhibition by cell-cell contact, the inhibitory effects of Tregs are mediated by heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression and membrane bound TGFβ. We hypothesise that a dysfunction of regulatory T cells underlies the development of the inflammatory response in COPD. This could be due to a decreased presence of Tregs in COPD, or to an altered function of Tregs. The latter may be due to a decreased HO-1 expression, as we have shown in macrophages of COPD patients compared to those in healthy controls, and/or an altered TGFβ regulation, a cytokine that plays a prime role in COPD.

Official Title
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Phenotype and Number of Regulatory T Cells Present in Peripheral Blood of COPD Patients Versus Healthy Controls

Conditions
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Withdrawal of medication


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: COPD patients Clinical diagnosed COPD No allergies Post-bronchodilator FEV1 < 80% predicted, and post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 70% No use of (inhaled) corticosteroids in the 6 weeks preceding the study Age > 40 Smokers and ex- smokers > 10 pack years Ex-smokers have to have quitted smoking for at least one year No other major current health problems Informed consent Healthy controls No signs of pulmonary disease No allergies or hyperreactivity No other major current health problems FEV1 > 90 % predicted, FEV1/FVC > 70% Age > 40 Never smokers, i.e. no cigarettes last year, and maximal 5 pack years Smokers and ex- smokers > 10 pack years Ex-smokers have to have quitted smoking for at least one year Informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Use of (inhaled) corticosteroids in the 6 weeks preceding the study Addiction to alcohol or drugs COPD exacerbation in the 6 weeks preceding the study

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Behavioral: Withdrawal of medication|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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COPD, Healthy, Regulatory T cell, Heme oxygenase-1, peripheral blood