Bronchoalveolar cellularity and interleukin-8 levels in measles bronchiolitis obliterans.
BACKGROUND
Measles virus infection may progress to a chronic obstructive process including bronchiolitis obliterans (BO). This study investigates pulmonary cellular profiles and interleukin (IL)-8 levels in patients with BO following the measles.


METHODS
BAL fluid was obtained from 12 children with BO who had a history of measles pneumonia during an outbreak in 2000 and 2001. BAL cell counts and differentials were compared to control patients as well as BAL IL-8 levels, which were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohistochemical staining of BAL cells and three open-lung biopsy specimens were also analyzed for T-cell surface markers CD3, CD4, and CD8.


RESULTS
BAL cellular profiles were characterized by a significantly increased percentage of neutrophils in the measles BO group (median, 16.0%) compared to the control group (2.3%) [p < 0.01]. BAL IL-8 levels were also markedly increased in the measles BO group (mean +/- SD, 418.6 +/- 286.0 pg/mL) compared to the control group (92.8 +/- 126.7 pg/mL) [p < 0.01]. BAL IL-8 levels correlated significantly with neutrophil percentages in both the measles BO group (r = 0.86, p = 0.000) and the control group (r = 0.79, p = 0.007). The lymphocyte subsets were characterized by a significantly increased number of CD8+ cells, resulting in a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio in the BAL and the biopsy specimens.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that pulmonary neutrophils and IL-8, along with CD8+ T lymphocytes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of BO after measles virus infection.
Koh
Young Yull
YY
Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Jung
Da Eun
DE
Koh
Ji Yeon
JY
Kim
Jung Yeon
JY
Yoo
Young
Y
Kim
Chang Keun
CK
D001706:Biopsy; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis*; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D017252:CD3 Complex; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016209:Interleukin-8