CD8+ T lymphocytes and leukotriene B4: novel interactions in the persistence and progression of asthma.

The contribution of CD8+ T cells to the development of airway hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation has received increased attention recently. CD8+ T cells, which are capable of secreting TH2 cytokines, including IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, have been described in asthmatic subjects and in animals sensitized and challenged with allergen. A subset of these IL-13-producing CD8+ T cells, effector memory CD8+ T cells in the mouse, express a high-affinity receptor for leukotriene B4 (BLT1), and expression of this receptor is essential for their accumulation in the lung and development of airway hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation. A similar subset of CD8+/BLT1+/IL-13+ T cells has also been identified in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthmatic subjects, suggesting a pathogenic role for this unique subset of CD8+ T cells in asthma.