Major lymphocyte populations and T-cell expression of ICAM-1 and L-selectin adhesion Molecules in Kuwaitis with asthma and rhinitis

The authors evaluate major immunologic features of asthma and allergies in a Kuwaiti population. They analyzed peripheral venous blood from 17 asthmatic and 17 healthy long-term residents of Kuwait by using two-color flow cytometry for major lymphocyte subpopulations; they also evaluated 10 healthy individuals who had recently arrived in Kuwait. Relative to healthy subjects, asthmatics exhibited increased percentages of [T.sup.+] NK cells (p < .01), T-helper cells (p < .05), T-cytotoxic and NK cells for both total numbers (p < .01-.001) and percentages (p < .05-.01), and increased percentages of T cells expressing CD54 (ICAM-1; p < .001) and CD62 (L-selectin; p < .01). However, B cells were present at significantly lower levels in asthmatics, both in total numbers (p < .05) and percentages (p < .01). In comparison with healthy individuals who had recently arrived in Kuwait, healthy long-term residents exhibited elevated numbers of pan-T cells (p < .01) and T-helper cells (p < .05). These results help establish immunological parameters for asthma and allergies in Kuwaiti populations. KEY WORDS: asthma, B cells, CD54, CD62, ICAM-1, Kuwait, L-selectin, rhinitis, T cells
In the present study we evaluate the hypothesis that, in comparison with healthy individuals, Kuwaiti patients who are concurrently afflicted with asthma and rhinitis exhibit a significantly altered representation of [...]