Cytokine concentrations in sputum of asthmatic patients.
To examine whether levels of inflammatory cytokines and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in the sputum reflect the severity of bronchial asthma, we measured their levels in the sputum of symptomatic and asymptomatic asthmatics. Interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, RANTES, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and ECP concentrations in the sputum of symptomatic patients were significantly higher than in asymptomatic subjects. These findings suggest that these inflammatory cytokines are involved in the exacerbation of asthma.
First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
S
S
Konno
Y
Y
Gonokami
M
M
Kurokawa
K
K
Kawazu
K
K
Asano
K
K
Okamoto
M
M
Adachi
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012260:Ribonucleases; D013183:Sputum / Q000276:immunology*
D001798:Blood Proteins; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D016207:Cytokines; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D012260:Ribonucleases