Cytokine/Chemokine HLDA8 Workshop panel report: Analysis of receptors on lymphocytes from cord blood, normal and asthmatic subjects, and HIV positive patients

Chemokines and cytokines are involved in many processes, both physiological and pathological, particularly the recruitment, differentiation, activation, and proliferation of immune cells taking part in ontogenesis, inflammation, and cancer. It was assumed that chemokines and cytokines receptors are expressed in a regulated manner by human lymphocytes during ontogeny and later on, under the environmental stimulation of antigens they contribute to organogenesis, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling, as well as modulating leukocyte effector functions. Using monoclonal antibodies classified by the Cytokine/Chemokine section of the 8th International Workshop on Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens, we analyzed human lymphocytes in blood samples drawn from the umbilical cord, normal adults, allergic and non-allergic asthma patients, HIV infected, and AIDS positive subjects. The main differences noted between adult and cord blood lymphocytes were related to CCR7 and CXCR4 receptors, which were more strongly expressed on cord blood lymphocytes, confirming the important role of these chemokines during development of the immune system. As with the HIV, CXCR4, and CCR5 co-receptors, we found no differences in CXCR4 expression between HIV and AIDS patients. However CCR5 was more strongly expressed in AIDS patients, which is likely to be associated with the evolution of disease. Further studies are needed to gain a better understanding of the functions of these molecules in the underlying pathogenesis of many diseases and to probe the use of the chemokine receptors as targets for therapeutic intervention.