[Changes of leukotriene B4 in induced sputum and plasma of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the effects of theophylline].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the changes of leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) in induced sputum and plasma of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the effects of theophylline.


METHODS
The investigation was a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Forty stable COPD patients (group C) were randomized into a subgroup receiving oral theophylline 0.2 g twice a day for one month (group CA) and a subgroup receiving no theophylline (group CB). Fifteen age-matched healthy non-smokers (group H) were included as controls. The following measurements were performed at baseline for each group and one month later for group C: symptom and life quality scores, pulmonary function, cell counts and cell differentials in induced sputum, and concentrations of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and LTB(4) in both induced sputum and plasma by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA).


RESULTS
Concentrations of LTB(4) in induced sputum [(794 +/- 305) pg/mg x pro] and plasma [(5,219 +/- 1,185) ng/L] in group C were significantly higher than those in group H [(347 +/- 169) pg/mg x pro, (2,283 +/- 489) ng/L, all P < 0.05]. The level of LTB(4) in induced sputum was positively correlated with the percentage of neutrophil (r = 0.453, P = 0.018) and IL-8 (r = 0.364, P = 0.047). The pre-and post-therapy concentrations of LTB(4) in induced sputum and plasma in group CA were (812 +/- 592), (657 +/- 459) pg/mg x pro and (5,422 +/- 935), (4,589 +/- 1,057) ng/L, respectively; while in group CB the concentrations were (776 +/- 227), (860 +/- 194) pg/mg x pro and (5,074 +/- 1,850), (6,063 +/- 2,450) ng/L, respectively. There were no significant changes either in the level of LTB(4) in induced sputum or in plasma in both groups (all P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that LTB(4) is involved in airway inflammation in COPD. Theophylline is not effective in decreasing the levels of LTB(4) in both induced sputum and plasma of COPD patients.
Ding
Yan-ling
YL
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China.
Yao
Wan-zhen
WZ
Liu
Zheng
Z
Wang
Yu-zhu
YZ
D000368:Aged; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry; D013806:Theophylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D013806:Theophylline