title: Monitoring inflammation in CF. Cytokines.
abstract: In cystic fibrosis (CF), chronic airway infection and neutrophil-dominated airway inflammation lead to progressive lung disease. Cytokines play an important role in the inflammatory response. Evidence suggests that cytokine production is altered or dysregulated in CF. Moreover, polymorphisms in cytokines may be linked to disease severity by acting as modifier genes. This article reviews the current state of knowledge regarding individual cytokines and CF lung disease, with an eye towards the possibility that cytokines may be used as outcome measures in clinical trials in CF. In addition, cytokines may eventually serve as targets for novel anti-inflammatory therapies in CF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 1056 E. 19th Ave., Box B395, Denver, CO 80218, USA. sagel.scott@tchden.org
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Sagel
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Accurso
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000502:physiology; D015166:Monitoring, Immunologic; D009017:Morbidity
chemical_list: C505032:CFTR protein, human; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator