T Cell Receptor Repertoire in Peripheral Blood and Bronchial Biopsies From Normal and Asthmatic Subjects

Abstract

Asthma, perennial rhinitis and eczema affect between 3040% of the population of industrialised countries. Endobronchial T-cell infiltration and activation is an important aspect of the histology of asthma. Phenotyping of the T-cells involved in asthma has largely been based on cytokine secretion profiles. Studies have implicated T helper subtypes secreting interleukin 4 (114) and IL-5 in asthma [1, 21. Antiien and superantigen activation of T-cells occurs predominantly via the variable 01) region of the T-cell receptor (TCR), however, liltle is known about the subtypes of the TCR through which antigen activation occurs. The