title: Interleukin-8. Differential expression in lone fibrosing alveolitis and systemic sclerosis.
abstract: Fibrosing alveolitis may occur alone (CFA) or in association with systemic sclerosis (FASSc). FASSc was recently shown to have a prognostic advantage over CFA. Because interleukin-8 (IL-8) is likely to be a major determinant of neutrophil alveolitis, we evaluated IL-8 expression in patients with CFA and FASSc and compared it with that in normal individuals and sarcoidosis and systemic sclerosis patients without pulmonary involvement (SSc no FA). IL-8 protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was assessed by immunoassay, and IL-8 mRNA expression was assessed using Northern analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization of lung parenchyma. Compared with normal subjects, IL-8 concentration was significantly greater in both CFA (p < 0.001) and FASSc groups (p < 0.05) but no different in sarcoidosis. The IL-8 concentration in CFA was higher than in FASSc (p < 0.01) and was related to BAL % neutrophils (rs = 0.48, p < 0.01). IL-8 mRNA expression evaluated by Northern analysis was seen only in patients with CFA and FASSc and was related to BAL % neutrophils (rs = 0.63, p < 0.01). We suggest that IL-8 is a key factor in the pathogenesis of fibrosing alveolitis and that the poorer prognosis of CFA compared with FASSc is related to higher levels of IL-8 within the lower respiratory tract.
authors.affiliation: Interstitial Lung Disease Unit, Royal Brompton National Heart and Lung Hospital, London, England.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Southcott
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Majumdar
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Cambrey
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pantelidis
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Jeffery
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016209:Interleukin-8; D012333:RNA, Messenger