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Blood interleukin‐8 production is increased in chemical workers with bronchitic symptoms
Author(s) -
Keman Soedjajadi,
Willemse Brigitte,
Tollerud David J.,
Guevarra Lucille,
Schins Roel P.F.,
Borm Paul J.A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199712)32:6<670::aid-ajim14>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - medicine , chronic bronchitis , bronchitis , respiratory system , immunology , respiratory disease , spirometry , bronchial hyperresponsiveness , asthma , whole blood , cytokine , gastroenterology , pulmonary function testing , lung
Chemical exposure may result in respiratory conditions such as chronic bronchitis, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and chronic airway obstruction. Clinical studies have shown that during the course of disease, cytokine networks are changed. In order to study the relationship between blood cytokines and respiratory symptoms in an occupational setting, we investigated 106 chemical workers during a routine yearly medical examination in 1995. Lung function was measured with flow volume curves and impedance using the forced oscillation technique (FOT). Smoking status and respiratory symptoms were determined by questionnaires. Cytokines were selected on biological plausibility and measured both in a whole blood assay (TNF‐α, IL‐8) and in serum (IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐6, IFN‐γ). The hypothesis is that blood levels of TNF‐α and IL‐8 are increased in bronchitis, while serum levels of IL4, IL‐5 are increased and IFN‐γ is decreased in asthmatic workers. Spontaneous IL‐8 release was significantly higher in workers with bronchitis (P < 0.05) or chronic bronchitis (P < 0.01) compared to workers without those respiratory symptoms, also after correction for age, pack‐years, and blood lymphocyte numbers or compared to a matched control group. No correlation was present between specific cytokines and asthmatic symptoms. These data suggest that blood IL‐8 may be considered as a useful marker for bronchitis. Am. J. Ind. Med. 32:670–673, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.