Chest, Vol 102, 661-669, Copyright © 1992 by American College of Chest Physicians

ARTICLES

Cytokine mRNA profile and cell activation in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from nonatopic patients with symptomatic asthma

M Marini, E Avoni, J Hollemborg and S Mattoli
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.

Recent studies have indicated that airway inflammation in atopic asthma is characterized by T-cell activation and local eosinophilia, but it is unknown whether this also applies to nonatopic asthma. In this study, the cytokine mRNA profile and activation status of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of eight nonallergic patients with symptomatic asthma and eight nonallergic healthy controls were compared using the message amplification phenotyping (MAPPing) with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure and immunocytochemical evaluation. Asthmatics had an increasing number of inflammatory cells in BALF, including activated eosinophils (EG2-positive) (p less than 0.001) and activated T cells (CD25-positive) (p less than 0.001). Activated T cells from five of the eight asthmatic patients and from one control subject expressed high levels of interleukin 5 (IL-5) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). All the asthmatic patients had increased numbers of monocytes in their BALF (p less than 0.002) and those cells invariably showed increased expression of interleukin 1 beta (IL1 beta) transcripts. In five patients they also expressed appreciable levels of IL-6 and GM-CSF mRNA. IL-5 and GM- CSF can induce local activation of eosinophils, and IL-1 beta and IL-6 are known to promote T-cell activation and proliferation. Thus, there is an increased production of cytokines with inflammatory properties in the airways of patients with nonatopic symptomatic asthma, which may contribute to the persistence of inflammation, and monocytes and activated T cells are important sources of these cytokines.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Triggiani, M. Gentile, A. Secondo, F. Granata, A. Oriente, M. Taglialatela, L. Annunziato, and G. Marone Histamine Induces Exocytosis and IL-6 Production from Human Lung Macrophages Through Interaction with H1 Receptors J. Immunol., March 15, 2001; 166(6): 4083 - 4091. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Jedrzkiewicz, H. Nakamura, E. S. Silverman, A. D. Luster, N. Mansharamani, K. H. In, G. Tamura, and C. M. Lilly IL-1beta induces eotaxin gene transcription in A549 airway epithelial cells through NF-kappa B Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, December 1, 2000; 279(6): L1058 - L1065. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Arima, J. Plitt, C. Stellato, C. Bickel, S. Motojima, S. Makino, T. Fukuda, and R. P. Schleimer Expression of Interleukin-16 by Human Epithelial Cells . Inhibition by Dexamethasone Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., December 1, 1999; 21(6): 684 - 692. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. L. Pype, L. J. Dupont, P. Menten, E. Van Coillie, G. Opdenakker, J. Van Damme, K. Fan Chung, M. G. Demedts, and G. M. Verleden Expression of Monocyte Chemotactic Protein (MCP)-1, MCP-2, and MCP-3 by Human Airway Smooth-Muscle Cells . Modulation by Corticosteroids and T-Helper 2 Cytokines Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., October 1, 1999; 21(4): 528 - 536. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. P. Umland, H. Shah, J. P. Jakway, J. Shortall, S. Razac, C. G. Garlisi, A. Falcone, T. T. Kung, D. Stelts, V. Hegde, et al. Effects of Cyclosporin A and Dinactin on T-Cell Proliferation, Interleukin-5 Production, and Murine Pulmonary Inflammation Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., March 1, 1999; 20(3): 481 - 492. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. P. Hallsworth, C. P. C. Soh, C. H. C. Twort, T. H. Lee, and S. J. Hirst Cultured human airway smooth muscle cells stimulated by interleukin-1beta enhance eosinophil survival. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., December 1, 1998; 19(6): 910 - 919. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. N. Kline, T. J. Waldschmidt, T. R. Businga, J. E. Lemish, J. V. Weinstock, P. S. Thorne, and A. M. Krieg Cutting Edge: Modulation of Airway Inflammation by CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides in a Murine Model of Asthma J. Immunol., March 15, 1998; 160(6): 2555 - 2559. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]