Objective To explore the role of γδT cells in the airway of asthmatics and to identify the forces which induce and maintain the inflammatory processMethods Peripheral blood (PB) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were obtained fromrn7 asthmatic subjects and 7 nonsmoker control subjects The percentage of γδTrn cells in the PB and BALF was measured by immunofluorescent staining and flow cyrntometry The frequency of usage and the clonality of Vδ subfamilies (Vδ 1-Vrnδ 3) were assessed by RTPCR and gene scanning Results A higher proportion of γδT cell was detected in the BALF of asthmatic subjects (7.8%±4.7%) than that from control subjects (3.3%±3.0%, P=0.04) No selective usage for a particular Vδ subfamily was found, but the relative expression level of Vδ 1 was significantly higher in the asthmatic airway (44%±13%) than in the control (19%±5%, P=0.0002) In asthmatic subjects, the monoclonal or oligoclonal expansion of γδT lymphocytes was predominant in the BALF, especially Vδ 1+ T lymphocytes Conclusions Antigenic specific γδT cells might play an important role in the inducement and maintenance of airway inflammation Persistent antigenic stimulation may be the key factor that maintains chronic airway inflammation in asthma%目的探讨γδT细胞在哮喘气道慢性炎症产生或延续机制中的作用。方法 留取7例哮喘患者和7例对照者的外周血和支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)。用免疫荧光染色和流式细胞分析技术检测γδT细胞的百分率，用RT-PCR法和基因扫描法分析T细胞受体Vδ1～Vδ3亚族的相对取用频率及克隆增殖状态。结果 哮喘患者BALF中γδT细胞比例(7.8%±4.7%)较对照组(3.3%±3.0%)显著增加（P=0.04）。哮喘患者的外周血及BALF中V 1～Vδ3亚族的相对取用频率无显著差异，但BALF中Vδ 1的相对取用频率(44%±13%)较对照组(19%±5%)显著增加（P=0.0002）。哮喘患者BALF中部分Vδ基因亚家族呈单克隆或寡克隆扩增，以Vδ1亚族尤其显著。结论对单一或数种抗原发生特异性应答的γδT细胞在哮喘的炎症过程中可能发挥了较重要的作用，而这种/些抗原的持续刺激可能是支气管哮喘气道炎症发生与持续发展的原因之一。
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