title: Fungal exposure and low levels of IL-10 in patients with sarcoidosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines. Previous studies have shown a relation between the degree of granuloma infiltration and serum cytokine levels, except for interleukin- (IL-) 10. The aim of the study was to further investigate the serum levels of IL-10 in patients with sarcoidosis and relate them to fungal exposure in terms of the amount of fungi in the air of their homes and β-glucan in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with sarcoidosis (n = 71) and healthy controls (n = 27) were enrolled. IL-10 was determined in serum. BAL was performed and the amount of β-glucan was measured. Domestic exposure to fungi was determined by measuring airborne β-N-acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) in the bedrooms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At high levels of fungal exposure (domestic fungal exposure and β-glucan in BAL), serum IL-10 values were lower than at low and intermediate exposure levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low serum IL-10 values at high fungal exposure suggest that fungal cell wall agents play a role in granuloma formation in sarcoidosis by inhibiting the secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases, The University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Marjeta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terčelj
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stopinšek
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Alojz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ihan
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases, The University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salobir
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Saša
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simčič
authors.affiliation: Biofact Environmental Health Research Center, Björkåsvägen 21, 44391 Lerum, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ragnar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rylander
mesh_terms: D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000032:analysis; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D047071:beta-Glucans; D016753:Interleukin-10; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases