Bronchopulmonary lymph nodes and large airway cell trafficking in patients with fatal asthma

FA is associated with the increased presence of eosinophils in the LNs and large airways, which express HLA-DR and costimulatory molecules. The expression of Factor XIIIa+ monocyte-derived DCs, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, CD20+ B cells, and CD23+ cells was increased in the large airways without a corresponding increase in the expression of these cells in the bronchopulmonary LNs. These findings support the concept that eosinophils might act as antigen-presenting cells in patients with FA.