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Levels of CMV-reactive antibodies correlate with the induction of CD28null T cells and systemic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 13, pages 551–553 (2016)Cite this article

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic irreversible inflammation and progressive decline in lung function. While smoking and other environmental agents (e.g., air pollutants) are common causes of COPD, the major challenges in managing this condition are the persistent inflammation and functional deterioration which are not reversed by removal of precipitating agents (e.g., smoking cessation) or treatment with anti-inflammatory agents. We hypothesized that the reactivation of latent CMV infection may trigger expansion of pro-inflammatory CD28null T cells and hence promote sysmetic inflammation in patients with COPD. This study presents novel data showing increased levels of CMV-reactive IgM and IgG in COPD patients compared to controls. This paralleled observed increases in markers of sytemic inflammation ex vivo and proportions of circulating CD28null T cells. This mechanism may explain the persistent inflammation in COPD patients.

COPD is a leading cause of global mortality and morbidity which affects mostly smokers and the elderly. It involves airway and systemic inflammation and progressive decline in lung function due to airway damage and airflow obstruction. Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD), defined as significant worsening of COPD symptoms requiring treatment modifications and/or hospitalization, contribute to functional deterioration and heightened inflammation.1

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by an Ada Bartholomew Grant from The University of Western Australia and a MRF Young Investigator Grant from Royal Perth Hospital. The authors would like to thank the staff at the Centre for Clinical Research in Emergency Medicine, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and the COPD Linkage clinic, Royal Perth Hospital for patient recruitment, and the patients and controls who volunteered for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Asthma, Allergy and Respiratory Research, School of Medicine & Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia

    Dino B A Tan & Yuben P Moodley

  2. Stem Cell Unit, Lung Institute of WA, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia

    Dino B A Tan & Yuben P Moodley

  3. School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia

    Fathiah S Amran, Teck-Hui Teo & Patricia Price

  4. School of Biomedical Science, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia

    Patricia Price

  5. Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia

    Yuben P Moodley

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  1. Dino B A Tan
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  2. Fathiah S Amran
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  4. Patricia Price
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  5. Yuben P Moodley
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Correspondence to Dino B A Tan.

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Tan, D., Amran, F., Teo, TH. et al. Levels of CMV-reactive antibodies correlate with the induction of CD28null T cells and systemic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cell Mol Immunol 13, 551–553 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2015.4

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