Cytokines in symptomatic asthma airways

• Published in: Journal of allergy and clinical immunology Vol. 89; no. 5; pp. 958 - 967
• Main Authors: Broide, David H., Lotz, Martin, Cuomo, Anthony J., Coburn, David A., Federman, Edward C., Wasserman, Stephen I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.05.1992; Elsevier
• Subjects: Allergic diseases; Asthma; Asthma - metabolism; Asthma - physiopathology; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - chemistry; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - cytology; cytokines; Cytokines - metabolism; GM-CSF; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor - analysis; Humans; IL-1β; IL-2; IL-6; Immunopathology; Interleukin-1 - genetics; Interleukins - analysis; Medical sciences; Molecular Sequence Data; Oligonucleotide Probes - genetics; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Respiratory and ent allergic diseases; Respiratory Function Tests; RNA - analysis; TNF; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - analysis; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - genetics; IL; BALF; IL-2; FEF 50; IL-1β; TNF; BAL; IL-6; LPS; Asthma; IFN-γ; GM-CSF; RNA-PCR; UCSD; cytokines; Human; Immunopathology; Bioassay; Respiratory disease; Cytokine; Interleukin 1β; Interleukin 6; Respiratory tract; Interleukin 4; Interleukin 2; Tumor necrosis factor; Bronchoalveolar lavage; Interleukin 1; Ratio; Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor
• ISSN: 0091-6749; 1097-6825
• DOI: 10.1016/0091-6749(92)90218-Q

To determine whether cytokines are generated in vivo in subjects with asthma, we have measured cytokine (tumor necrosis factor [TNF], granulocyte-macrophage—colony-stimulating factor [GM—CSF], interleukin [IL]-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6) in the airways of subjects with symptomatic (N = 24) and asymptomatic (N = 9) asthma with immunoassays (GM-CSF, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, ad IL-4) or bioassays (TNF and IL-6) and the polymerase chain reaction (IL-1β and TNF). Significant levels of TNF (578 ± 917 pg/ml versus 24 ± 29 pg/ml) ( p = 0.01), GM-CSF (24 ± 41 pg/ml versus <8 pg/ml) ( p = 0.02), and IL-6 (225 ± 327 pg/ml versus 7 ± 12 pg/ml) ( p = 0.01), but not IL-1α or IL-4, were detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with symptomatic compared with BALF of patients with asymptomatic asthma. Levels of IL-1β (266 ± 270 pg/ml versus <20 pg/ml) ( p = 0.001) and IL-2 (1.4 ± 2.8 ng/ml versus <0.3 ng/ml) ( p = 0.05) in BALF in patients with asymptomatic compared with that in BALF levels in patients with asymptomatic asthma suggested activation of alveolar macrophages and T cells. Thus, in episodes of asthma, several cytokines, including TNF, GM-CSF, IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-6 are detectable in BALF.