Lymphocytes

Abstract

This chapter discusses the biology of how T-lymphocytes are activated to be armed effector cells able to direct cellular inflammation of the airways and inappropriate antibody secretion from B-cells. Airways of asthmatic patients who have died from the disease are intensely infiltrated with lymphocytes, the majority of which are T-cells. T-cells are present in mucosal biopsies or lavages of asthmatic patients and show evidence of both activation and active cytokine secretion. Drugs that control asthma—such as glucocorticosteroids—and more powerful immunosuppressive agents—such as cyclosporin A, FK506, and rapamycin—improve asthma symptoms, at least to some extent, and concurrently inhibit T-..