Increased IL-6 and IL-4 in exhaled breath condensate of patients with nasal polyposis.
OBJECTIVE
Nasal polyposis (NP) occurs in about 1-4% of the worldwide population. Increased plasma concentrations of different pro-inflammatory cytokines have been observed in NP, and might be related to the pathogenesis of this syndrome. The present study was designed to investigate IL-6 and IL-4 concentrations in nasal and oral exhaled breath condensate of patients with early and advanced NP, and following polypectomy.


METHODS
Ten individuals with polyposis in early status, twenty-three patients affected by advanced status of NP and ten healthy controls were enrolled into the study. Exhaled breath condensate was collected by all individuals, according to a previous standardised method. An immunoassay kit was used to measure IL-6 and IL-4 levels.


RESULTS
Concentrations of oral and nasal exhaled IL-6 and IL-4 were significantly higher in patients with early nasal polyposis and advanced nasal polyposis, compared to healthy controls. A statistically significant decrease of nasally but not of orally exhaled IL-6 (p < 0.001) and IL-4 (p < 0.05) was observed after polypectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
We consider oral and nasal exhaled condensate of IL-6 and IL-4 as valid inflammatory and oxidative stress marker in patients with nasal polyposis.
Carpagnano
G E
GE
Section of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Occupational and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Foggia. ge.carpagnano@unifg.it
Carratú
P
P
Gelardi
M
M
Spanevello
A
A
Di Gioia
G
G
Condreva
T
T
Resta
O
O
Barbaro
M P Foschino
MP
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004724:Endoscopy; D045853:Exhalation; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D025363:Rhinomanometry; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D015847:Interleukin-4