This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wolter, J. M.
Right arrow Articles by McCormack, J. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Wolter, J. M.
Right arrow Articles by McCormack, J. G.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, March 1999, p. 260-265, Vol. 6, No. 2
1071-412X/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Cytokines and Inflammatory Mediators Do Not Indicate Acute Infection in Cystic Fibrosis

Joanne M. Wolter,1,* Robyn L. Rodwell,2 Simon D. Bowler,3 and Joseph G. McCormack1

Department of Infectious Disease,1 Haematology Department,2 and Department of Respiratory Medicine,3 Mater Adult Hospital, South Brisbane 4101, Queensland, Australia

Received 24 June 1998/Returned for modification 22 September 1998/Accepted 4 December 1998

Various treatment regimens and difficulties with research design are encountered with cystic fibrosis (CF) because no standard diagnostic criteria exist for defining acute respiratory exacerbations. This study evaluated the role of serial monitoring of concentrations of selected cytokines and inflammatory mediators in serum and sputum as predictors of respiratory exacerbation, as useful outcome measures for CF, and to guide therapy. Interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha ), neutrophil elastase-alpha -1-protease inhibitor complex (NE complex), protein, and alpha -1-protease inhibitor (alpha -1-PI) were measured in serum and sputum collected from CF patients during respiratory exacerbations and periods of well-being. Levels of NE complex, protein, and alpha -1-PI in sputum rose during respiratory exacerbations and fell after institution of antibiotic therapy (P = 0.078, 0.001, and 0.002, respectively). Mean (± standard error of the mean) levels of IL-8 and TNF-alpha were extremely high in sputum (13,780 ± 916 and 249.4 ± 23.5 ng/liter, respectively) but did not change significantly with clinical deterioration of the patient (P > 0.23). IL-8 and TNF-alpha were generally undetectable in serum, and therefore these measures were unhelpful. Drop in forced expiratory volume in 1 s was the only clinical or laboratory parameter that was close to being a determinant of respiratory exacerbation (P = 0.055). This study provides evidence of intense immunological activity occurring continually within the lungs of adult CF patients. Measurement of cytokines and inflammatory mediators in CF sputum is not helpful for identifying acute respiratory exacerbations.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: University Department of Medicine, Mater Adult Hospital, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia. Phone: 61 7 3840 8916/8518. Fax: 61 7 3840 1548. E-mail: j.wolter{at}mailbox.uq.edu.au.

Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, March 1999, p. 260-265, Vol. 6, No. 2
1071-412X/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Elkins, M. R., Robinson, M., Rose, B. R., Harbour, C., Moriarty, C. P., Marks, G. B., Belousova, E. G., Xuan, W., Bye, P. T.P., the National Hypertonic Saline in Cystic Fibrosis, (2006). A Controlled Trial of Long-Term Inhaled Hypertonic Saline in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis. NEJM 354: 229-240 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sloane, A. J., Lindner, R. A., Prasad, S. S., Sebastian, L. T., Pedersen, S. K., Robinson, M., Bye, P. T., Nielson, D. W., Harry, J. L. (2005). Proteomic Analysis of Sputum from Adults and Children with Cystic Fibrosis and from Control Subjects. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 172: 1416-1426 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Ordonez, C. L., Henig, N. R., Mayer-Hamblett, N., Accurso, F. J., Burns, J. L., Chmiel, J. F., Daines, C. L., Gibson, R. L., McNamara, S., Retsch-Bogart, G. Z., Zeitlin, P. L., Aitken, M. L. (2003). Inflammatory and Microbiologic Markers in Induced Sputum after Intravenous Antibiotics in Cystic Fibrosis. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 168: 1471-1475 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Foell, D, Seeliger, S, Vogl, T, Koch, H-G, Maschek, H, Harms, E, Sorg, C, Roth, J (2003). Expression of S100A12 (EN-RAGE) in cystic fibrosis. Thorax 58: 613-617 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»