Flow cytometry analysis of lymphocyte subsets in bronchoalveolar lavage: comparison between lung non-Hodgkin lymphomas and reactive diseases

BACKGROUNDAge related changes in the immune system have been studied frequently but a possible relation to sex has not, to our knowledge, previously been examined. The effect of age and sex on the composition of lymphocyte subsets in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and peripheral blood was therefore examined.METHODSBronchoscopy with lavage was performed in 32 healthy non-atopic, non-smoking volunteers (16 women aged 26–63 years (mean 44) and 16 men aged 23–63 years (mean 39)). Cytospin preparations for differential counts of BAL fluid cells and surface antigen expression of lymphocytes from BAL fluid and blood were analysed by flow cytometry.RESULTSMost parameters in the BAL fluid changed with age in women. The percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes increased with age from a mean of 48 (SD10)% in women aged ⩽40 years to 69 (11)% in women aged >43 years (p=0.001). The percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes tended to decrease with age and the CD4/CD8 ratio was 5.8 (1.2) in women aged >43 years compared with 2.1 (0.7) in those aged ⩽40 years (p<0.0001). Women aged >43 years differed from men aged >43 years as well as from younger subjects of both sexes with respect to CD4+ cells and CD4/CD8 ratio, and from younger women with respect to CD8+ cells. There was no age related change in the CD4/CD8 ratio in blood. No sex related differences were seen in the blood or BAL fluid of adults below the age of 40 years.CONCLUSIONSThe composition of lymphocytes with different phenotypes in the lower respiratory tract changes with age in women but not in men. This may have implications for some clinical conditions such as chronic dry cough which are observed predominantly in women.

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A Synergic Potential of Antimicrobial Peptides against Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26051461 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 1461

Author(s):

Nuno Mariz-Ponte ◽

Laura Regalado ◽

Emil Gimranov ◽

Natália Tassi ◽

Luísa Moura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Flow Cytometry ◽

Antimicrobial Peptides ◽

Pseudomonas Syringae ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Bacterial Canker ◽

Membrane Permeation ◽

Flow Cytometry Analysis ◽

Pathogenic Agent ◽

Peptide Mixtures

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) is the pathogenic agent responsible for the bacterial canker of kiwifruit (BCK) leading to major losses in kiwifruit productions. No effective treatments and measures have yet been found to control this disease. Despite antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) having been successfully used for the control of several pathogenic bacteria, few studies have focused on the use of AMPs against Psa. In this study, the potential of six AMPs (BP100, RW-BP100, CA-M, 3.1, D4E1, and Dhvar-5) to control Psa was investigated. The minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) were determined and membrane damaging capacity was evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. Among the tested AMPs, the higher inhibitory and bactericidal capacity was observed for BP100 and CA-M with MIC of 3.4 and 3.4–6.2 µM, respectively and MBC 3.4–10 µM for both. Flow cytometry assays suggested a faster membrane permeation for peptide 3.1, in comparison with the other AMPs studied. Peptide mixtures were also tested, disclosing the high efficiency of BP100:3.1 at low concentration to reduce Psa viability. These results highlight the potential interest of AMP mixtures against Psa, and 3.1 as an antimicrobial molecule that can improve other treatments in synergic action.

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