Regulatory T Cells in COPD

November 7, 2007 updated by: Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD

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

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.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

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.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

50

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Netherlands
      • Groningen, Netherlands
        • University Medical Center Groningen

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

40 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

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

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Huib AM Kerstjens, MD, PhD, UMCG, department of pulmonary diseases

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

January 1, 2007

Study Completion (Actual)

November 1, 2007

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 26, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 26, 2007

First Posted (Estimate)

March 27, 2007

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

November 8, 2007

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 7, 2007

Last Verified

November 1, 2007

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • METc2006-135

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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