Allergy
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Allergic asthma has been linked to an increase in T-helper type 2-like cytokines and T cells, but there is growing evidence for a role of lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of asthma. Therefore, we investigated the cytotoxic potential of different lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with allergic asthma. ⋯ In allergic asthma, cytotoxic T lymphocyte subsets of a more differentiated phenotype are significantly decreased and this is correlated to serum immunglobulin E levels.