[Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) level in broncholaveolar lavage (BAL) fluid is positively correlated with CD4/CD8 ratio in selected interstitial lung diseases].
IFN-gamma a potent antifibrotic activity in interstitial lung diseases (ILD). T cells, both Th1 and Tc1, are considered to be the main local source of IFN-gamma.


METHODS
BAL fluids of 98 patients with ILD, incl. idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF/UIP), sarcoidosis, extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA), asbestosis and silicosis (n=16, 49, 7, 10, 16 resp.) were tested with ELISA for IFN-gamma levels. Results were compared with BAL cytoimmunology and patients' clinical data.


RESULTS
Significantly increased IFN-gamma levels were found in non-treated patients with EAA (7.8 +/- 2.1), IPF (6.1 +/- 1.8), Loefgren's syndrome, LS (11.9 +/- 2.6) and progressive sarcoidosis, PS (6.4 +/- 1.2, p < 0.05 for all), whereas the results in pneumoconioses were comparable to those obtained in controls (2.0 +/- 1.1 pg/ml, median +/- SEM). IFN-gamma results were positively correlated with total number of CD4+ cells (r(s) = +0.38, p < 0.05), CD4+ cells percentage (r(s) = +0.32, p < 0.005) and CD4+/CD8+ ratio (r(s) = +0.38, p = 0.0007), but negatively correlated with CD8+ cell percentage (r(s) = -0.39, p < 0.0005). In IPF patients with CD4/CD8 < or =1 (n=9) IFN-gamma level was lower as compared with the group with CD4/CD8 >1 (n=7), 2.8 +/- 1.3 vs. 7.3 +/- 1.0 pg/ml. In sarcoidosis, IFN-gamma level did not seem to have a prognostic role, since values obtained in PS did not differ remarkably from those in stable sarcoidosis and LS. Moreover, subsequent steroid treatment in 7 patients with progressive sarcoidosis did not change significantly IFN-gamma levels in BAL fluid.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased IFN-gamma level was found in non-treated patients with IPF, Loefgren's syndrome and progressive sarcoidosis. CD4+ (Th1), but neither CD8+ (Tc1) nor NK cells seem to be the main local source of IFN-gamma in ILD. Relatively low CD4/CD8 ratio in ILD may indicate the patients with increased risk of lung fibrosis.
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum of Bydgoszcz, Poland. mpkopins@consoft.com.pl
Piotr
P
Kopiński
Grzegorz
G
Przybylski
Agnieszka
A
Jarzemska
Krzysztof
K
Sładek
Jerzy
J
Soja
Teresa
T
Iwaniec
Barbara
B
Balicka-Slusarczyk
Grazyna
G
Pinis
Andrzej
A
Dyczek
Karina
K
Szabłowska
Joanna
J
Golińska
Marek
M
Jankowski
Jerzy
J
Szczeklik
D000328:Adult; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012016:Reference Values; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012829:Silicosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D007371:Interferon-gamma