Disturbance of apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes in different variants of bronchial asthma

Aim. To reveal disturbances of peripheral blood lymphocytes apoptosis in different variants of bronchial asthma (BA). Material and methods. Apoptosis was studied in 20 healthy subjects, 70 BA patients: 32 patients with allergic BA (ABA) and 26 patients with non-allergic (NABA), 12 patients with BA treated with oral glucocorticosteroids. The following parameters of apoptosis were assessed: cell readiness for apoptosis (expression of CD95/Fas/APO-1 receptors), an early reversible stage of apoplosis (expression of phosphatidylserine on outer leaflet of lymphocyte membrane) and a late stage of apoptosis (the key effector caspase 3 activity). Results. ABA is characterized by increased peripheral blood lymphocytes resistance to apoptosis: a decrease in expression of CD95/fas/APO-1 receptors and phosphatidylserine on lymphocyte surface and caspase 3 activity. NABA is characterized by peripheral blood lymphocyte apoptosis activation at all stages: high expression of CD95/Tas/APO-1 receptors, expression of phosphatidyiserine and caspase 3 activity. BA patients on systemic glucocorticosteroids are characterized by maximal expression of CD95/Tas/APO-1 receptors and phosphatidylserine on lymphocyte surface and the highest caspase 3 activity. Conclusion. The findings allow more accurate definition of the features of peripheral blood lym phocytes apoptosis in different variants of bronchial asthma and characteristics of relations between disturbed apoptosis and inflammation. Disturbances of apoplosis may be of pathogenetic importance in persistence of allergic inflammation.