title: Aging and airway inflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since little is known of airways inflammation in the elderly, we have carried out a study to explore the presence of some inflammatory markers in the airways of healthy subjects of different ages using a non-invasive method which is particularly suitable for aged people.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to investigate whether parameters, including (1) pH, IL-8 and TNF-α in exhaled breath condensate (EBC), (2) exhaled nitric oxide levels (NO), and (3) inflammatory cell profile in induced sputum, are age-related.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty healthy adults (10 subjects below the age of 30 [A], 10 subjects between 30 and 60 years [B], and 10 subjects over 60 years of age [C]), were enrolled in the study. IL-8 and TNF-α levels were measured in breath condensate. Exhaled pH was measured after deaeration/decarbonation by means of a pH-meter. A rapid-response chemiluminescence NO analyzer was used to quantify NO. Induced sputum was collected, homogenized with dithiothreitol, and cytospins for differential cell were produced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of IL-8 and TNF-α in EBC, the levels of exhaled NO, and the percentage of neutrophils in induced sputum were significantly elevated in C and B compared with A; the EBC pH level was significantly reduced in C and B compared with A. The EBC levels of IL-8, TNF-α, pH, the level of exhaled NO, and the percentage of neutrophils correlated significantly with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has shown the presence of age-related airways inflammation in healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Institute of Respiratory Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy. ge.carpagnano@unifg.it
authors.forename: Giovanna Elisiana
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Carpagnano
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Turchiarelli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spanevello
authors.forename: Grazia Pia
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Palladino
authors.forename: Maria Pia Foschino
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Barbaro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015994:Incidence; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide