title: Smokers with CT detected emphysema and no airway obstruction have decreased plasma levels of EGF, IL-15, IL-8 and IL-1ra.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low-grade inflammation and emphysema have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. However, the systemic inflammatory response in patients with emphysema is still unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  TO COMPARE THE PLASMA CYTOKINE PROFILES IN TWO GROUPS OF CURRENT OR FORMER SMOKERS WITHOUT AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION: a control group of individuals without computed tomography (CT) detected emphysema vs. a study group of individuals with CT detected emphysema.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects underwent a chest CT, spirometry, and determination of EGF, IL-15, IL-1ra, IL-8, MCP-1, MIP-1β, TGFα, TNFα, and VEGF levels in plasma. Cytokine levels in each group were compared adjusting for confounding factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  160 current smokers and former smokers without airway obstruction participated in the study: 80 without emphysema and 80 subjects with emphysema. Adjusted group comparisons revealed significant reductions in EGF (-0.317, p = 0.01), IL-15 (-0.21, p = 0.01), IL-8 (-0.180, p = 0.02) and IL-1ra (-0.220, p = 0.03) in subjects with emphysema and normal spirometry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current or former smokers expressing a well-defined disease characteristic such as emphysema, has a specific plasma cytokine profile. This includes a decrease of cytokines mainly implicated in activation of apoptosis or decrease of immunosurveillance. This information should be taken into account when evaluated patients with tobacco respiratory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. jupa65@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Juan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: de-Torres
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Ana B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Alcaide
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Seijo
authors.forename: Gorka
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bastarrika
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pajares
authors.forename: Arrate
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Barrutia
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ortiz-de-Solorzano
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pio
authors.forename: Arantza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.forename: Usua
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Montes
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Segura
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pueyo
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Montuenga
authors.forename: Javier J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zulueta
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / Q000097:blood; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D019409:Interleukin-15; D016209:Interleukin-8; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor