Reversing a defect in glucocorticoid-resistant asthma patients

摘要

This group previously reported that human CD4 regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) of allergen-sensitive subjects secrete high levels of IL-10 when stimulated in the presence of dexamethasone and vitamin D_3. This IL-10 secretion can inhibit cytokine secretion by allergen-specific T_H2 cells. Now the investigators extended their study to the lymphocytes of patients whose asthma was characterized as glucocorticoid resistant (SR). They found that there was not enhanced secretion of IL-10 secretion by Tregs of SR patients when cultured with allergen in the presence of dexamethasone. However, addition of vitamin D_3 with dexamethasone to cultures of SR CD4 Tregs enhanced IL-10 synthesis to levels observed in cells from gluco-corticoid-sensitive patients cultured with dexamethasone alone.