高效抗逆转录病毒治疗对中国HIV/AIDS患者淋巴细胞活化及第二受体表达的影响

目的　了解高效抗逆转录病毒治疗后中国HIV/ AIDS患者淋巴细胞活化及CCR5、CXCR4表达的变化,探讨HIV感染者对于抗病毒治疗的免疫应答。方法　10例HIV /AIDS患者给予高效抗逆转录病毒治疗(HAART),用流式细胞仪检测治疗前和治疗第3、6 个月T淋巴细胞活化(HLA DR、CD38表达)及第二受体CCR5、CXCR4表达情况,比较HIV/ AIDS患者治疗前后淋巴细胞活化、第二受体表达的变化。结果　治疗前,10例HIV /AIDS患者CD4+、CD8+ T淋巴细胞活化水平均明显高于健康对照,CD8+ T淋巴细胞表面CCR5的表达明显高于健康对照,CXCR4 的表达明显低于健康对照(P<0.05);HAART治疗后,患者淋巴细胞活化水平随治疗时间明显下降(P<0.05),CD8+ T淋巴细胞表面CCR5表达水平显著降低(P< 0. 01), CXCR4 的表达升高;治疗6 个月时, CD38 CD4、HLA DRCD38 CD4、CCR5 CD8、CXCR4 CD8表达水平恢复至健康人水平;HIV AIDS淋巴细胞活化水平及第二受体CCR5的表达降低与HAART治疗后CD4+T淋巴细胞数量的升高具有显著的相关性。结论HAART能够降低中国HIV /AIDS患者淋巴细胞活化水平,使第二受体表达水平趋于正常,促进免疫功能的恢复。     

中国经采供血HIV感染长期不进展者CD4~+T淋巴细胞趋化因子受体表达研究

目的:了解中国经采供血HIV感染长期不进展者CD4+T淋巴细胞趋化因子受体表达,分析其与疾病不进展的关系。方法:收集43例经采供血HIV感染长期不进展者、82例无症状HIV感染者、35例AIDS病人及40例健康对照的抗凝全血,用流式细胞仪检测趋化因子受体CCR5、CXCR4的表达,并分析其与病毒载量、CD4+T淋巴细胞绝对值及T淋巴细胞活化的相关性。结果:长期不进展组CD4+T细胞表面CCR5的表达明显低于无症状HIV感染组及AIDS组(P0.01),与健康对照无显著差异;CD4+T细胞表面CXCR4的表达各组无显著差异。CD4+T细胞表面CCR5的表达与CD4+T细胞数量显著负相关(r=-0.498,P0.05),与病毒载量无显著相关性。CD4+T细胞表面CCR5的表达与HLA、CD38在CD4+、CD8+T细胞的表达水平显著正相关(P0.001,CD38在CD4+T细胞的表达除外),CD4+T细胞表面CXCR4的表达与HLA在CD4、CD8+T细胞的表达水平显著负相关(P0.01)。结论:HIV感染长期不进展者CD4+T细胞趋化因子受体CCR5表达维持较低水平,与疾病不进展相关。     

HIV-1感染者淋巴细胞活化与第二受体表达的研究

目的：了解HIV－1感染者体内淋巴细胞的活化情况及表达第二受体CCR5、CXCR4的淋巴细胞活化状态，分析这些指标与疾病严重程度的关系，探讨HIV感染的免疫基础。方法：用三色标记法流式细胞术检测24例HIV－1感染者及13例健康对照的抗凝血标本，分析活化标志物HLA－DR及第二受体CCR5、CXCR4的表达等指标。结果：HIV－1感染者CD8^ T淋巴细胞的HLA－DR表达高于健康对照（P＜0．001）；HIV－1感染者表达CCR5、CXCR4的CD8^ T淋巴细胞活化明显高于健康对照（P＜0．001）；表达CCR5CD4^ 、CD8^ T淋巴细胞与表达CXCR4相比HL－DR表达均明显增高（P＜0．001）；CD4^ 、CD8^ T淋巴细胞的活化状态与CD4百分率的变化明显关系。结论：HIV－1感染者CD8^ T淋巴细胞及表达不同第二受体的CD8^ T淋巴细胞活化程度明显增高，活化程度与疾病进程相关。     

HIV/AIDS患者NK细胞趋化因子受体表达研究

目的:探讨中国HIV/AIDS患者NK细胞表面趋化因子受体CXCR4、CCR5表达情况。方法:采用流式细胞仪分析HIV/AIDS患者外周血NK细胞表面趋化因子受体CCR5和CXCR4的表达。结果:未治疗典型HIV/AIDS患者NK细胞表面趋化因子受体CXCR4和CCR5与正常对照无显著差异(P >0 0 5 ) ,HIV长期不进展者NK细胞CCR5受体低于未治疗的典型HIV/AIDS患者(P <0 0 5 ) ,与正常对照相比无显著差异(P =0 0 5 ) ;HAART治疗组NK细胞趋化因子受体CCR5表达显著低于未治疗典型HIV/AIDS患者(P <0 0 1)。结论:趋化因子受体CCR5在NK细胞上表达的变化与疾病的不同阶段密切相连,对NK趋化因子受体的检测有助于艾滋病疾病进程的研究     

HIV/HCV合并感染者淋巴细胞活化及第二受体表达的研究

目的了解中国不同疾病进展阶段人类免疫缺陷病毒和丙型肝炎病毒（HIV／HCV）合并感染者T淋巴细胞与自然杀伤细胞（natural killer cells，NK）数量变化及T淋巴细胞活化、受体表达情况，并探讨HCV感染对HIV感染免疫指标及疾病进展的影响。方法应用流式细胞术分析228例不同疾病进展阶段的HIV／HCV合并感染者及101例单纯HIV感染者外周血T淋巴细胞、NK细胞数量及T淋巴细胞活化受体（HLA-DR、CD38）、第二受体（CCR5、CXCR4）表达情况。结果（1）HIV／HCV合并感染组中，CD4^＋T淋巴细胞、NK细胞数量随疾病进展持续下降，其中艾滋病组（AIDS）明显低于无症状HIV感染组（HIV）（P〈0．05），HIV组明显低于长期不进展组（LTNP）（P〈0．01），LTNP组与健康对照组差异无统计学意义。LTNP组、HIV组及AIDS组CD4^＋、CD8^＋T细胞表面活化受体HLA-DR、CD38的表达依次升高，其中各组间CD8／CD38的升高差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05），AIDS组CD4／HLA-DR、CD8／HLA-DR的升高明显高于LTNP组和HIV组（P〈0．01）。LTNP组、HIV组及AIDS组CD4^＋、CD3^＋T细胞表面CCR5的表达亦依次升高，各组间差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；CD3^＋T细胞表面CXCR4的表达依次升高，AIDS组明显高于HIV组和LTNP组（P〈0．01）。（2）HIV／HCV合并感染组与单纯HIV感染组相比，AIDS组NK细胞明显下降（P〈0．05），CD4^＋T细胞下降，但无统计学意义，CD4／HLA-DR、CD8／HLA-DR、CD4／CXCR4、CD3／CXCR4明显升高（P〈0．01）；HIV组NK细胞明显下降（P〈0．01），CD4／CXCR4明显升高（P〈0．05）；LTNP组各项指标与单纯HIV感染组相比差异无统计学意义。（3）HIV／HCV合并感染组的HIV病毒载量随疾病进展不断升高，与单纯HIV感染组相比差异无统计学意义；HCV病毒载量在疾病不同阶段差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论随疾病进展，HIV／HCV合并感染者的免疫功能逐渐下降，HIV病毒载量逐渐升高。与单纯HIV感染相比，合并HCV感染可通过破坏机体天然免疫功能、促进免疫系统活化和受体表达，加速HIV感染的疾病进展。     

趋化因子受体CCR5、CCR7、CXCR3和CXCR6在丙肝患者肝内及外周血CD4+ T淋巴细胞上的表达及其意义

目的比较趋化因子受体CCR5、CCR7、CXCR3和CXCR6在丙肝患者肝内和外周血CD4^＋T淋巴细胞表面表达水平及其意义,同时进一步了解其与肝脏组织学炎症反应的关系.方法采用荧光标记抗趋化因子受体的单克隆抗体对肝内及外周血中CD4^＋T淋巴细胞表面的趋化因子受体进行染色后,采用9色11参数流式细胞仪LSRⅡ进行检测分析.结果（1）肝内CCR5^＋、CXCR3^＋或/和CXCR6^＋的CD4^＋T淋巴细胞频数高于外周血（P＜0.001）,而CCR7^＋CD4^＋T淋巴细胞频数低于外周血（P＜0.001）;（2）肝内CCR5^＋或CXCR6^＋的活性（CD38^＋）CD4^＋T淋巴细胞频数高于外周血（P＜0.05）;（3）肝内表达2种或2种以上趋化因子受体CCR5、CXCR3和CXCR6的CD4^＋T淋巴细胞频数明显高于外周血（P＜0.001）,而不表达或仅表达一种上述趋化因子受体CD4^＋T淋巴细胞频数明显低于外周血（P＜0.001）;（3）CCR5和CXCR6在肝内CD4^＋T淋巴细胞表面的表达有中等度相关;（4）肝内组织学炎症明显组表达趋化因子受体CCR5、CXCR3或CXCR6的CD4^＋T淋巴细胞频数高于炎症轻微组.结论趋化因子受体CCR5、CXCR3和CXCR6可能介导CD4^＋T淋巴细胞向肝内迁徙定植,并参与肝脏炎症的病理免疫学反应过程.     

趋化因子及受体与中国HCV/HIV合并感染相关性的研究

目的：探讨趋化因子自细胞介素8（IL-8）、干扰素诱导蛋白10（IFN-inducible 10-kdaprotein，IP-10）及趋化因子受体CCR5、CXCR3，在丙肝病毒（HCV）单纯感染，艾滋病病毒（HIV）单纯感染和HCV／HIV合并感染过程中的表达及意义。方法：采用流式细胞术，检测HCV感染组（n=21）、HIV感染组（n=14）、HCV／HIV感染组（n=28）及正常对照组（n=30）人外周血CD4^＋T淋巴细胞和CD8^＋T淋巴细胞表面CCR5、CXCR3的表达。ELISA方法检测血清趋化因子IL-8、IP-10含量。结果：HCV感染组、HIV感染组和HCV／HIV合并感染组，血清IP-10水平都明显升高，而在合并感染组水平最高；血清IL-8水平在3组亦明显升高。HIV感染组及HCV／HIV合并感染组CD4^＋T细胞表面CXCR3表达显著降低（P〈0．001），CD8^＋T细胞表面CXCR3表达显著升高（P〈0．001）；HCV感染组CD4^＋及CD8^＋T细胞表面CXCR3表达轻度升高，但差异不显著。HCV感染组及HCV／HIV合并感染组CD4^＋及CD8^＋T细胞表面CCR5表达显著降低（P〈0.001）；HIV感染组CD4^＋及CD8^＋T细胞表面CCR5表达显著升高（P〈0.001）。结论：中国HCV／HIV合并感染患者中，血清IL-8和IP-10水平都明显升高；受体CXCR3在CD4^＋T细胞表面表达降低，而在CD8^＋T细胞表面表达升高；受体CCR5在CD4^＋及CD8^＋T细胞表面表达降低，提示趋化因子及受体与HCV／HIV合并感染密切相关。     

肠黏膜Th17细胞在HIV/AIDS病理过程中的作用

人类免疫缺陷病毒(Human immunodeficiency virus,HIV)主要利用CD4为受体、CCR5和CXCR4为辅助受体感染人CD4+T淋巴细胞,并在大多数感染者中引发获得性免疫缺陷综合征(acquired immunodeficiency syndrome,AIDS)[1].肠相关淋巴组织(gut-associated lymphoid tissue,GALT)具有丰富的CD4+ CCR5+T淋巴细胞,是HIV感染的主要靶组织.现已有研究表明,CD4+T细胞缺失和持续的免疫活化是HIV感染的主要免疫病理特征.病毒感染导致肠道免疫系统结构和功能的损伤、黏膜屏障破坏,从而导致机体慢性免疫活化,这可能是HIV-1致病的重要机制[2-3].     

复发性生殖器疱疹患者外周血趋化性细胞因子及其受体的研究

目的 :在单细胞水平上研究复发性生殖器疱疹 (RGH)外周血T淋巴细胞上CCR2、CCR5、CXCR1、CXCR3的表达 ,并通过观察血清趋化性细胞因子的改变 ,探讨趋化性细胞因子及其受体在RGH发病机理中的作用。方法 :采用ELISA法检测 2 0例RGH患者及 30例正常人血清中白细胞介素 8(IL 8)、γ干扰素诱导的蛋白 10 (IP 10 )、单核细胞趋化蛋白 1(MCP 1)、巨噬细胞炎性蛋白 12 (MIP 12 )活化后可调节的正常T细胞表达和分泌的因子 (RANTES) ,巨噬细胞来源的趋化性细胞因子(MDC)等水平变化 ;同时用双色荧光标记的流式细胞术分析 2 0例RGH患者外周血淋巴细胞表面趋化因子受体CCR2、CCR5、CXCR1、CXCR3的表达情况。结果 :RGH患者血清RANTES水平低于正常对照组 (P <0 0 5 ) ;外周血CXCR1+ T淋巴细胞百分率高于正常对照组 (P <0 0 5 )。结论 :病毒反复感染机体后 ,抑制机体的免疫细胞产生RANTES并通过T淋巴细胞CXCR1+ 的高表达可能在RGH抗病毒感染的免疫机理中起重要作用。     

婴儿肠道不同部位T细胞亚群及其表面分子检测——婴儿肠道HIV-感染和复制的可能性分析

通过对婴儿外周血(PB)、肠系膜淋巴结(MLN)和肠上皮内(IE)来源淋巴细胞的比较性研究,以分析婴儿肠道HIV-1感染容许性和HIV-1复制支持性的细胞与分子基础。分离婴儿外周血单个核细胞(PBMC),肠系膜淋巴结淋巴细胞(MLNL)和肠上皮间淋巴细胞(iIEL),制备单细胞悬液,运用流式细胞术结合荧光抗体染色技术:(1)检测不同部位的CD3+T细胞中CD4+辅助性T细胞和CD8+杀伤性T细胞比例;(2)检测不同部位的CD4+T细胞CCR5和CXCR4以及CD69和HLA-DR的表达水平。结果发现:(1)iIEL中的CD4+辅助性T细胞占CD3+T细胞的比例明显低于PBMC和MLNL,而CD8+杀伤性T细胞占CD3+T细胞的比例明显高于PBMC和MLNL;(2)iIEL中CD4+T细胞CCR5和CXCR4以及CD69和HLA-DR的表达水平均明显高于PBMC和MLNL。结果表明:婴儿iIEL中CD4+T淋巴细胞与PBMC和MLNL的CD4+T淋巴细胞相比较,高表达HIV-1入胞共受体CCR5和CXCR4,提示iIEL更易被HIV-1感染;iIEL中CD4+T淋巴细胞高表达细胞活化标记分子CD69和HLA-DR,说明其更有利于HIV-1复制,这种高基础活化率可能与其不断接触小肠来源的食物和共生菌抗原有关。由此可见,婴儿肠道具有了HIV-1感染容许性和HIV-1复制支持性的细胞和分子基础,因此成了HIV-1最易感的解剖部位,这可能是围产期HIV感染的婴儿病毒载量明显高于成年人,且病情进展也比成年人快的原因。     

Activation and Coreceptor Expression of T Lymphocytes in HIV/AIDS Patients of China

The objective of this paper was to investigate the activation and coreceptor CCR5, CXCR4 expression of T lymphocytes in HIV/AIDS patients of China, and to study their association with disease progression. Seventy-seven HIV/AIDS patients and thirteen normal controls were enrolled and three-color flow-cytometry was used to detect the activation marker HLA-DR, CD38 and the coreceptor CCR5, CXCR4 expression on T lymphocytes in whole blood samples taken from the patients and the controls. The HLA-DR, CD38 and CCR5 expression on CD4, CD8⁺ T cells in AIDS patients was higher than in asymptomatic HIV-1 infected patients and normal controls (p < 0.05); The activation and CCR5 expression on T lymphocytes significantly correlated with CD4⁺ T lymphocyte number and viral load. The activation on T lymphocytes and the expression of CCR5 on T lymphocytes in HIV/AIDS patients of China are significantly correlated with disease progression.     

艾滋病患者T淋巴细胞表面归巢分子的表达在抗病毒治疗后升高

目的 探讨艾滋病(AIDS)患者高效抗反转录病毒治疗(HAART)前后T淋巴细胞表面归巢分子CD49d、CCR9、CD62L表达的变化情况.方法 采用流式细胞术检测42例艾滋病患者和18例HIV阴性健康对照的外周血T淋巴细胞表面CD49d、CCR9和CD62L表达,用BD FACSDiva软件分析计算各组细胞表达的百分率.结果 治疗后组外周血的平均CD4~+T淋巴细胞明显高于治疗前组(P<0.01);治疗前组CD3~+CD49d~+、CD3~+ CCR9~+、CD3~+CD62L~+、CD3~+CD4~+、CD4~+CD49d~+、CD4~+CCR9~+、CIM~+CD62L~+、CD8~+CD49d~+、CD8~+CD62L~+T淋巴细胞的百分率显著低于治疗后组和阴性对照组(P<0.05);CD3~+CD8~+T淋巴细胞的百分率高于治疗后组(P<0.05).治疗后组CD3~+CCR9~+、CD8~+CCR9~+、CD8~+CD62L~+T淋巴细胞的百分率均低于阴性对照组(P均<0.001).结论 AIDS患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群不仅比例失调,而且其表面表达肠道归巢分子CD49d、CCR9,淋巴结归巢分子CD62L的数量发生异常改变.抗病毒治疗可以逆转以上部分免疫病理变化.建议肠道归巢分子CD49d、CCR9和淋巴结归巢分子CD62L可作为艾滋病疾病进展和评价机体HAART后免疫重建的指标.     

HIV/AIDS患者CD28在外周血CD4+、CD8+ T细胞上的表达变化

目的　研究国内HIV AIDS患者CD2 8在外周血CD4 + 、CD8+ T淋巴细胞上表达的变化 ,并探讨这些变化的临床意义。方法　用流式细胞仪检测 5 1例正常对照、14例HIV感染者和 36例AIDS患者的外周血CD4 + 、CD8+ T淋巴细胞表面的CD2 8分子的表达 ,用bDNA法检测 11例HIV感染者和 18例AIDS患者的血浆病毒载量。结果　CD4 + CD2 8+ T细胞的绝对计数与百分比、CD8+ CD2 8+T细胞的百分比均显示为正常对照组 >HIV感染组 >AIDS组 ;而CD8+ CD2 8+ T细胞的绝对计数显示HIV感染组和对照组显著大于AIDS组 ,HIV感染组与对照组间差异无显著性。CD4 + 、CD2 8+ CD4 + T淋巴细胞计数与血浆病毒载量显著负相关。结论　HIV AIDS患者外周血CD2 8在CD4 + 、CD8+ T淋巴细胞上表达随着病情进展而降低 ,反映了细胞免疫功能随着疾病进展损害逐渐加重 ,是判断病情进展的指标。     

Expression of chemokine receptors on CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood from HIV-infected individuals in Uganda.

CXCR4, a coreceptor for T cell (T)-tropic HIV-1, is preferentially expressed on naive T cells, whereas CCR5, a coreceptor for macrophage (M)-tropic HIV-1, is preferentially expressed on previously activated memory T cells and the Th1 subset of CD4+ T cells. CCR4 is preferentially expressed on the Th2 subset of CD4+ T cells. A cross-sectional flow cytometry study was conducted to evaluate the expression of CXCR4, CCR5, and CCR4 on the peripheral blood CD4+ T cells from African HIV-1-infected and uninfected Ugandan adults. The plasma viral load in HIV-1-infected individuals was also examined. Upregulation of CCR4 and CCR5 expression but no decrease in CXCR4 expression on CD4+ T cells were obtained in peripheral blood from African adults with progression of the disease. Plasma HIV-1 viremia significantly and inversely correlated with the peripheral CD4+ T cell count but did not correlate with the degree of CCR4 and CCR5 expression on the peripheral CD4+ T cells in HIV-1-infected individuals. Our present data suggest an increase in percentage of activated memory CD4+ T cells in the advanced stage of HIV-1 infection among African adults. There was no evidence of a Th1 to Th2 shift in terms of chemokine receptor expression profile with advancing disease in the peripheral blood of these subjects.     

CXCR4 and CCR5 expression on CD4+ T cells in vivo and HIV-1 antigen beta-chemokine production in vitro after treatment with HIV-1 immunogen (REMUNE)

BACKGROUND: The chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CCR5 have been identified as the major coreceptors for HIV-1 on CD4+ cells and macrophages. The natural ligands for these receptors are SDF-1 and the beta-chemokines (MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, RANTES), respectively, and are the products of a variety of immune cells, including CD8+ T lymphocytes. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: We hypothesized that the ability to stimulate the natural ligands for these receptors using an immune based therapy might influence in vivo chemokine receptor expression. RESULTS: In vivo CXCR4 expression remained stable after treatment with an HIV-1 Immunogen (REMUNE), whereas CCR5 expression on CD4+ T cells decreased (p < .05). Furthermore, HIV-1 antigen-specific production of beta-chemokines in vitro was also augmented (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest that this HIV-1-specific immune-based therapy can stimulate antigen-specific beta-chemokine production in vitro and downregulate CCR5 receptor expression on CD4 cells in vivo.     

CCR4 is an up-regulated chemokine receptor of peripheral blood memory CD4+ T cells in Crohn's disease

Several chemokine receptors are expressed selectively on the surface of T cells depending on their polarization. The aim of this study was to characterize chemokine receptor expression in peripheral blood memory T cells in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), and to correlate the expression with disease activity. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from 24 patients with CD, 30 patients with UC, 24 normal controls and 10 disease controls. PBMCs were stained by anti-CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CXCR3, CD4, CD8, CD45RO and beta 7 integrin, and the expression of the chemokine receptors were determined by flow cytometry. CCR4 expression on memory T cells was significantly lower in UC than in CD or normal controls, and that of memory CD4+ T and beta 7(high) memory CD4+ T cells was significantly higher in CD than in UC or normal controls. CCR4 expression on memory CD4+ T cells exhibited significant positive correlation with disease activity in CD, and this decreased significantly after treatment. Such a decrease was not found in the disease controls. CCR5 and CXCR3 expression on memory CD8+ T cells was significantly lower in CD than in normal controls. CXCR3 expression on beta 7(high) memory CD4+ T and CXCR3 expression on memory CD8+ T cells were lower in UC than in normal controls. These findings suggest that in peripheral blood memory T cells, chemokine receptor expression is different between CD and UC. Enhancement of CCR4 and suppression of CCR5 and CXCR3 seem to be the characteristic chemokine receptor profile in peripheral blood memory T cells of CD.     

T lymphocytes expressing CCR3 are increased in allergic rhinitis compared with non-allergic controls and following allergen immunotherapy

BACKGROUND: In T cell-associated allergic inflammation, homing of T-helper 2 (Th2) effector cells to mucosal sites may be influenced by chemokine receptor expression. Previous studies have identified CCR3 and CCR4 as putative markers of Th2 cells and CCR5 and CXCR3 as markers of Th1 cells. The aim of this study was to assess differential chemokine receptor expression from symptomatic atopic grass pollen-sensitive subjects, compared with patients on high-dose allergen injection immunotherapy (IT) and healthy controls. METHODS: We examined chemokine receptor expression (CCR1-7 and CXCR1-4) by flow cytometry of peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. We also depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) populations of CCR3+ CD4+ cells by magnetic bead separation and cells were stimulated with grass pollen allergen for 6 days. Cytokine production was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: On freshly isolated PBMC, atopic individuals exhibited increased numbers of CCR3+ CD4+ cells compared with normal controls (P < 0.01). CCR3 expression in IT patients was reduced compared with matched atopic rhinitic controls (P < 0.05) and comparable with that observed in normal subjects. Depletion of CCR3+ CD4+ cells from allergen-stimulated PBMC cultures resulted in decreased interleukin (IL)-5 production compared with whole CD4+ populations (P < 0.05). Freshly isolated CCR3+ CD4+ cells have significantly higher intracellular IL-4 and lower IFN-gamma levels than CCR3- CD4+ cells. CD4+ T cells cultured from both peripheral cells and nasal biopsies demonstrated increased expression of CCR3 in the presence of IL-4 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: CCR3+ CD4+ T cells are increased in allergic rhinitis, are reduced by allergen IT, have a Th2 phenotype and contribute to allergen-specific responses. Strategies against CCR3+ T cells may be effective in human allergic diseases.