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Cytokine production from sputum cells after allergenic challenge in IgE‐mediated asthma
Author(s) -
Bettiol J.,
Sele J.,
Henket M.,
Louis E.,
Malaise M.,
Bartsch P.,
Louis R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1034/j.1398-9995.2002.23586.x
Subject(s) - medicine , sputum , immunology , eosinophil , cytokine , asthma , eosinophil cationic protein , allergen , interleukin 5 , immunoglobulin e , inhalation , allergic inflammation , allergy , interleukin , antibody , pathology , tuberculosis , anatomy
Background: Th2 cytokine production from airway cells is thought to govern the eosinophilic airways inflammation in allergic asthma. Induced sputum has become a widely used technique to assess airways inflammation . Methods: By applying the technique of induced sputum to collect airways cells, we have assessed the spontaneous production of a set of cytokines, including interleukin‐4, 6, 10, interferon‐γ and tumour necrosis factor‐α, 6 h after a bronchial allergenic challenge with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) in 12 sensitized asthmatics and compared the results obtained after inhalation of saline as control. A group of eight healthy non‐allergic subjects was enrolled to control for any non‐specific effect of Dpt. Cytokines were measured by a dynamic immunoassay during a 24‐h sputum cell culture. Results: Allergen challenge in sensitized asthmatics caused an acute and a late bronchospasm together with a rise in sputum eosinophil counts. Afterwards allergen sputum cells from allergic asthmatics displayed a rise in their production of IL‐4 ( P < 0.01), IL‐6 ( P < 0.05) and IL‐10 ( P < 0.05) when compared to saline. By this time sputum generation of IL‐4 in atopic asthmatics was greater than in healthy subjects ( P < 0.001). Furthermore, in allergic asthmatics there was a strong correlation between the rise in interleukin‐4 production from sputum cells and the rise in sputum eosinophils ( r = 0.87, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Sputum cell culture is a useful model to assess cytokine production in allergic asthmatics who show a marked up‐regulation of Th2 cytokines following acute allergen exposure. The rise in sputum eosinophil count following allergen challenge strongly correlates with the rise in IL‐4 generation from sputum cells.