Free, soluble interleukin-17 protein during severe inflammation in human airways.
Studies in rodents indicate that the cytokine, interleukin (IL)-17, links the activation of T-lymphocytes to neutrophilic inflammation. The aim of the current study was to determine whether free, soluble IL-17 protein can be released during severe inflammation in human airways. Fifteen healthy subjects were exposed to a swine confinement in order to induce severe inflammation characterized by high neutrophil numbers in the airways. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was harvested 2 weeks prior to and 24 h after this exposure and the concentration of IL-17 protein was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Total and cell differential counts were also performed in BAL fluid. Prior to exposure to the swine confinement, the concentration of IL-17 in BAL fluid was low (<7.8 pg x mL(-1)) in 14 out of 15 subjects. However, exposure to the swine confinement caused an increase in IL-17 in 13 out of 15 subjects (median IL-17 concentration of 26.9 pg x mL(-1)). This exposure also caused a 51-fold increase in the concentration of neutrophils in BAL fluid. To conclude, free, soluble interleukin-17 protein can be released during severe inflammation characterized by high neutrophil numbers in human airways. The significance of interleukin-17 in inflammatory airway diseases therefore deserves further evaluation.
Laan
M
M
Dept of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Göteborg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Palmberg
L
L
Larsson
K
K
Lindén
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology*; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000276:immunology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012995:Solubility; D013147:Spirometry; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013552:Swine
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust; D020381:Interleukin-17