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Increase of chemokine levels in sputum precedes exacerbation of acute asthma attacks
Author(s) -
Kurashima Kazuyoshi,
Mukaida Naofumi,
Fujimura Masaki,
Schröder JensM.,
Matsuda Tamotsu,
Matsushima Kouji
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.59.3.313
Subject(s) - exacerbation , chemokine , immunology , sputum , monocyte , asthma , chemotaxis , asthma exacerbations , biology , interleukin 8 , eosinophil , cytokine , medicine , immune system , pathology , tuberculosis , receptor
Basophils and eosinophils can be activated in vitro by several chemokines such as RANTES, monocyte chemotactic and activating factor (MCAF/MCP‐1), macrophage inflammatory peptide‐1α (MIP‐1α), and interleukin‐8 (IL‐8). To explore the clinical relevance of the in vitro observations, we measured here the concentrations of these chemokines in sputa from asthmatic patients during acute attacks. Before the onset of a late‐phase exacerbation, sputum MCAF/MCP‐1, MIP‐1α, and IL‐8 levels transiently but markedly increased from the basal levels in all of the patients with exacerbation, whereas the sputum levels of these chemokines remained unchanged during the course in the patients without a late‐phase exacerbation. These results suggest the involvement of these chemokines in the late‐phase exacerbation of asthma.