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IL-8 Levels (il-8 + level)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Distribution within Medical Sciences

Immunology	16%
Dermatology	8%
14 Other Subdomains	76%

Selected Abstracts

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Maternal Circulating TNF-, Levels are Highly Correlated with IL-10 Levels, but not IL-6 and IL-8 Levels, in Women with Pre-Eclampsia

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2009
David F. Lewis
Problem, Several lines of evidence have shown that maternal cytokine levels of tumor necrosis factor-, (TNF-,), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were altered in women with pre-eclampsia (PE) compared to those from normal pregnancies. In this study, we determined whether these cytokine levels are correlated before and after delivery in patients with PE. Method of study, Venous blood was obtained from 50 women diagnosed with severe PE at the time of admission and 24 hr after delivery. Plasma concentrations for TNF-,, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were measured by ELISA. Results, There were no statistical differences for maternal levels of TNF-,, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 before and 24 hr postpartum. TNF-, and IL-10, but not IL-6 and IL-8, levels were significantly correlated before and 24 hr after delivery: TNF-,: y = 19.963 + 0.953*x; r2 = 0.924; IL-10: y = 10.521 + 1.113*x; r2 = 0.984, P < 0.001, respectively. Furthermore, TNF-, levels were correlated with IL-10 levels, but not with IL-6 and IL-8 levels. Conclusion, The correlation patterns of TNF-, with IL-10 and TNF-, with IL-6 and IL-8 suggest disparity in functional regulations between these cytokines in maternal circulation in PE. [source]

Systemic and local cytokine production in quiescent ulcerative colitis and its relationship to future relapse: A prospective pilot study

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 6 2005
Takayuki Yamamoto MD
Abstract Background: The main aim of this prospective study was to examine whether systemic (plasma) and local (mucosal) cytokine production is a predictor of future relapse in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis (UC). The impact of other clinical and laboratory parameters on relapse was also studied. Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with quiescent UC were included. At enrollment, blood and mucosal (rectal biopsies) samples were collected. All patients were followed up regularly for 1 year after enrollment. Plasma and mucosal cytokine levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To identify independent significant predictive factors for relapse, time-dependent analyses using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazard model were performed. Results: Thirty-four patients remained in remission, and 16 patients relapsed during the 1-year follow-up. Higher interleukin (IL)-8 levels in the rectal mucosa were significantly associated with relapse. In contrast, IL-1,, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-, levels in the rectal mucosa were not associated with relapse. Conventional blood markers and plasma cytokines (IL-1,, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-,) did not correlate with relapse. Among clinical factors, age and number of prior relapses were significantly associated with relapse. In multivariate analysis, a higher rectal mucosal IL-8 level (,160 pg/mg of tissue; hazard ratio, 4.7), younger age (<30 yr; hazard ratio, 7.3), and a greater number of prior relapses (,5; hazard ratio, 4.3) were independent significant risk factors for future relapse. Conclusions: Rectal mucosal IL-8 measurement might be an additional objective diagnostic tool that can predict relapse in patients with quiescent UC. [source]

Biocompatibility of Heparin-Coated Cardiopulmonary Bypass Circuits in Coronary Patients With Left Ventricular Dysfunction Is Superior to PMEA-Coated Circuits

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 6 2006
Veysel Kutay M.D.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and biocompatibility of heparin-coated and poly-2-methoxyethylacrylate (PMEA)-coated CPB circuits on coronary patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Methods: Thirty-six patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting were divided into two equal groups: group H (n = 18), heparin-coated; group P (n = 18), PMEA coated. Clinical outcomes, hematologic variables, cardiac enzymes, malondialdehyde (MDA), and acute phase inflammatory response (including myeloperoxidase (MPO), catalase, hsCRP, and IL-8) were analyzed perioperatively. Results: Demographic, CPB, and clinical outcome data were similar for both groups. Plasma fibrinogen, total protein, albumin, and platelet count decreased, neutrophil count, MDA, IL-8, MPO, and catalase levels increased during CPB. During CPB, MPO and catalase values were significantly higher in group P (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01) and postoperative MDA concentration was lower in group H (p = 0.03). Platelet counts were better preserved in group H during and after CPB but neutrophil count and IL-8 level did not differ between the groups. Postoperative total protein, albumin, and fibrinogen levels were higher in group H (p < 0.05). The postoperative first day levels of troponin-I, CK-MB, and CRP increased in both groups without any significant differences between the groups. Conclusions: Heparin-coated circuit provided better suppression of perioperative inflammatory markers and exhibited more favorable effects on hematologic variables than PMEA-coated circuit. [source]

Serum interleukin-8 level is a more sensitive marker than serum interleukin-6 level in monitoring the disease activity of recurrent aphthous ulcerations

JOURNAL OF ORAL PATHOLOGY & MEDICINE, Issue 3 2004
Andy Sun
Background:, Recurrent aphthous ulcerations (RAU) are common oral inflammatory lesions. Interleukin (IL)-8 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine of host response to injury and inflammation. Our recent study has found that measurement of serum IL-6 level can detect only 24% RAU patients with an abnormal serum level. In this study, we examined both the serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels in a group of RAU patients. The abilities of IL-6 and IL-8 to detect patients with an abnormal serum level were compared in order to find out whether IL-8 was a more sensitive serum marker than IL-6 in monitoring the disease activity of RAU. Methods:, In this study, we used a solid-phase, two-site sequential chemiluminescent immunometric assay to determine the baseline serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in 146 patients with RAU, 9 patients with traumatic ulcers (TU), and 54 normal control (NC) subjects. Eighty-two RAU patients, with the serum IL-6 or IL-8 levels higher than the upper limit of normal serum concentration, were treated with levamisole for 0.5,3.5 months, and their serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels were measured after treatment. Results:, We found that 25% (37/146) RAU patients, as well as 33% (20/61) major-type, 19% (13/69) minor-type, and 25% (4/16) herpetiform-type RAU patients, had a serum level of IL-6 greater than the upper normal limit of 4.7 pg/ml. In contrast, 60% (87/146) RAU patients, as well as 59% (36/61) major-type, 59% (41/69) minor-type, and 63% (10/16) herpetiform-type RAU patients, had a serum level of IL-8 greater than the upper normal limit of 8.7 pg/ml. In 82 RAU patients with the serum IL-6 or IL-8 levels higher than the upper limit of normal serum concentration, treatment with levamisole for a period of 0.5,3.5 months could significantly reduce the serum IL-6 level from 12.0 ± 1.6 to 3.0 ± 0.5 pg/ml (P < 0.001), and could significantly lower the serum IL-8 level from 70.9 ± 11.2 to 13.8 ± 3.1 pg/ml (P < 0.001). Conclusions:, Because measurement of serum IL-8 level can detect 60% RAU patients with an abnormal serum level, while measurement of serum IL-6 level can detect only 25% RAU patients with an abnormal serum level, we conclude that serum IL-8 level is a more sensitive marker than serum IL-6 level in monitoring the disease activity of RAU. Levamisole can modulate both the serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels in RAU patients. IL-8, like IL-6, is also a useful serum marker in evaluating therapeutic effects of levamisole on RAU patients. [source]

FR183998, a Na+/H+ exchange inhibitor, suppresses both IL-8 content and myocardial infarct size in a cardiac ischaemia-reperfusion model in rats

JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2002
F. Ohara
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of FR183998 (5-(2,5-dichlorothiophen-3-yl)-3-[(2-dimethylaminoethyl)carbamoyl]benzoylguanidine dihydrochloride), an Na+/H+ exchange inhibitor, on myocardial interleukin-8 (IL-8) content and myocardial infarct size in a rat ischaemia and reperfusion model. Rats underwent30 min of ischaemia followed by 1 to 24 h of reperfusion. IL-8 content rapidly increased in reperfused rat hearts. The maximum increase in IL-8 was obtained after 3 h of reperfusion. Intravenous administration of FR183998 at 1 and 3.2 mg kg,1, 5 min before ischaemia, significantly reduced the IL-8 level after 3 h of reperfusion (122 ± 16 and 149 ± 23 pg mg,1 protein, respectively), compared with that of the saline-treated group (258 ± 27 pg mg,1 protein). Myeloperoxidase activity after 3 h of reperfusion was also reduced by FR183998 (from 0.83 ± 0.19 unit g,1 weight of tissue in the saline-treated group to 0.36 ± 0.09 and 0.33 ± 0.06 unit g,1 weight of tissue in FR183998-treated groups at 1.0 and 3.2 mg kg,1, respectively). Myocardial infarction induced by 30 min of ischaemia and 24 h of reperfusion was significantly suppressed by the same doses of FR183998 (14.0 ± 1.5,13.5 ± 1.9% at 1.0 and 3.2 mg kg,1), compared with 22.2 ± 2.7% in the saline-treated group. These results suggest that IL-8 may contribute to the generation of myocardial infarction in an ischaemia and reperfusion model in rats. [source]

P73 The magnitude of contact allergy responses can be quantified with imaged perfusion

CONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 3 2004
Bolli Bjarnason
Objective:, The objective of this study was to determine whether the magnitude of the perfusion of the contact hypersensitivity response as measured by the laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) technique was associated with immunological parameters implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease. Methods:, Urushiol was applied on one of the forearms of volunteers for 48 hours while the other forearm served as a control. Twenty-four hours later, measurements of perfusion of the patch test sites were performed with the LDPI technique. To determine whether there was a correlation with immunological parameters associated with human contact hypersensitivity, suction blisters were produced at the test sites. Blister fluid was removed and examined for the cytokine interleukin-8 (IL-8). Results:, There was an extremely close correlation between the magnitude of the contact hypersensitivity response as measured by the imaged perfusion and the level of IL-8 in the blister fluid (r = 1.00). Compared to subjects with visually positive urushiol reactions, patients who failed to develop urushiol contact hypersensitivity despite repeated exposures to that substance had both greatly diminished perfusion and blister fluid IL-8 levels. Conclusion:, The results indicate that LDPI is a sensitive method of quantifying contact hypersensitivity reactions in humans and that the magnitude of the measurements with this technique correlates extremely well with cutaneous cytokine levels that have been implicated in the immunopathogenesis of contact hypersensitivity. [source]

Increased levels of inflammatory chemokines in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 6 2009
J. Kuhle
Background and purpose:, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is classically assumed to be a neurodegenerative disorder. Inflammation has been observed in CNS tissue in ALS patients. We investigated the expression and prognostic relevance of proinflammatory chemokines in ALS. Methods:, We analyzed nine chemokines, eotaxin, eotaxin-3, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, MCP-4, macrophage derived chemokine (MDC), macrophage inflammatory protein-1, (MIP-1,), and serum thymus and activation- regulated chemokine (TARC) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 20 ALS- and 20 non-inflammatory neurological disease (NIND)-patients. Results:, MCP-1 and IL-8 levels in CSF in ALS were significantly higher than in NIND (1304 pg/ml vs. 1055 pg/ml, P = 0.013 and 22.7 pg/ml vs. 18.6 pg/ml, P = 0.035). The expression of MCP-1 and IL-8 were higher in CSF than in serum (P < 0.001). There was a trend towards higher MCP-1 CSF levels in ALS patients with shorter time between first symptoms and diagnosis (r = ,0.407; P = 0.075). Conclusions:, We confirmed previous findings of increased MCP-1 levels in CSF of ALS patients. Furthermore, increased levels of IL-8 in CSF suggest a stimulation of a proinflammatory cytokine cascade after microglia activation. We found a tendency for higher MCP-1 values in patients with a shorter diagnostic delay, who are known to have also a shorter survival. This may suggest an association of higher MCP-1 levels with rapidly progressing disease. [source]

Disease-specific Helicobacter pylori Virulence Factors: The Unfulfilled Promise

HELICOBACTER, Issue S1 2000
David Y. Graham
A number of putative virulence factors for Helicobacter pylori have been identified including cagA, vacA and iceA. The criteria for a true virulence factor includes meeting the tests of biologically plausibility with the associations being both experimentally and epidemiologically consistent. Although disease-specific associations have been hypothesized/claimed, there are now sufficient data to conclusively state that none of these putative virulence factors have disease specificity. CagA has been claimed to be associated with increased mucosal IL-8 and inflammation, increased density of H. pylori in the antrum, duodenal ulcer (DU), gastric cancer, and protection against Barrett's cancer. Only the increase in IL-8/inflammation is direct and substantiated. Different H. pylori strains with functional cag pathogenicity islands do not vary in virulance as it has been shown that mucosal IL-8 levels are proportional to the number of cagA +H. pylori independent of the disease from which the H. pylori were obtained. It is now known that the density of either cagA + and cagA,H. pylori in the antrum of patients with H. pylori gastritis is the same. In contrast, the mean density of H. pylori in the antrum in DU is greater than in the antrum of patients with H. pylori gastritis. Of interest, the density of H. pylori is higher in the corpus of patients with H. pylori gastritis than those with DU, suggesting that acid secretion plays a critical role in these phenomena. The presence of a functional cag pathogenicity island increases inflammation and it is likely that any factor that results in an increase in inflammation also increases the risk of a symptomatic outcome. Nevertheless, the presence of a functional cag pathogenicity island has no predictive value for the presence, or the future development of a clinically significant outcome. The hypothesis that iceA has disease specificity has not been confirmed and there is currently no known biological or epidemiological evidence for a role for iceA as a virulence factor in H. pylori -related disease. The claim that vacA genotyping might prove clinically useful, e.g. to predict presentation such as duodenal ulcer, has been proven wrong. Analysis of the worldwide data show that vacA genotype s1 is actually a surrogate for the cag pathogenicity island. There is now evidence to suggest that virulence is a host-dependent factor. The pattern of gastritis has withstood the test of time for its relation to different H. pylori -related diseases (e.g. antral predominant gastritis with duodenal ulcer disease). The primary factors responsible for the different patterns of gastritis in response to an H. pylori infection are environmental (e.g. diet), with the H. pylori strain playing a lesser role. Future studies should work to eliminate potential bias before claiming disease associations. Controls must exclude regional or geographic associations related to the common strain circulation and not to the outcome. The authors must also control for both the presence of the factor and for the disease association. The study should be sufficiently large and employ different diseases and ethnic groups for the results to be robust. The findings in the initial sample (data derived hypothesis) should be tested in a new group (hypothesis testing), preferably from another area, before making claims. Finally, it is important to ask whether the results are actually a surrogate for another marker (e.g. vacA s1 for cagA) masquerading for a new finding. Only the cag pathogenicity island has passed the tests of biological plausibility (increased inflammation) and experimental and epidemiological consistency. [source]

Stress assessment in acute care department nurses by measuring interleukin-8

INTERNATIONAL NURSING REVIEW, Issue 4 2008
H. Fukuda phd
Background:, Cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-8, have been shown to be related to depressive symptoms or inflammatory diseases and may be useful as stress biomarkers. Aim:, This study was to assess whether urinary IL-8 levels were reliable indicators of stress among acute care department (AD) nurses. Methods:, A total of 118 nurses participated in the study. Urinary IL-8 levels of 49 AD nurses were compared with levels of a control group of 69 chronic care department (CD) nurses. Results:, The urinary IL-8 levels of AD nurses, who reported a higher level of professional stress, were higher than the levels of CD nurses (P < 0.01). Conclusion:, Measurement of urinary IL-8 may be an appropriate biomarker for stress assessment in nurses. [source]

Serum interleukin-8 level is a more sensitive marker than serum interleukin-6 level in monitoring the disease activity of recurrent aphthous ulcerations

Association between oral lichenoid reactions and amalgam restorations

JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 10 2008
S Pezelj-Ribari
Abstract Background The aim of this study was to perform a clinical assessment of the association between oral lichenoid reactions (OLR) and amalgam restorations and to determine the salivary concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 before and after replacement of the amalgam restorations. Methods The study included 20 patients with OLR and 20 healthy volunteers, who were examined between 2001 and 2005 at the Oral Medicine Unit of the Medical Faculty University of Rijeka. All patients were skin patch tested by an experienced physician. Saliva samples were collected, prepared and analysed for IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Sixteen out of 20 patch-tested patients showed a sensitization to inorganic mercury or amalgam. Total replacement of all amalgam fillings was carried out on 20 patients with fillings based on composite resin, gold, porcelain or a combination of these. Sixteen out of 20 patients showed complete healing of OLR; three patients had marked improvement, whereas one patient showed no improvement. Levels of IL-6 detected before replacement were significantly higher than IL-6 levels following the replacement (P = 0.003). The IL-8 levels measured before replacement procedure were significantly higher than the IL-8 levels after replacement of the fillings (P < 0.001). Conclusions On the basis of clinical observations, restorative therapy resulted in tissue healing. Following the replacement of amalgam fillings with fillings based on other restorative materials, levels of both IL-6 and IL-8 shifted towards normal, as measured in healthy subjects. [source]

Neopterin and interleukin-8 , prognosis in alcohol-induced cirrhosis

LIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2000
Christian Homann
Abstract:Background: Neutrophil cytotoxity and activated macrophages have been implicated in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced liver disease. The aim of this study was to relate plasma levels of neopterin, a marker of activation of the cellular immune system, and IL-8, a neutrophil chemotactic factor, with severity of liver disease and prognosis in patients with alcohol-induced cirrhosis. Methods: Plasma concentrations of neopterin and IL-8 were assessed in 81 patients with alcohol-induced cirrhosis admitted to the Department of Medicine B, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark, and in 16 healthy controls. After a median follow-up period of 5 years, mortality and death causes were registered. The patients were divided into groups according to the major contributing cause of death: infection, upper gastrointestinal bleeding or hepatic coma. Results: Neopterin and IL-8 levels were increased in the cirrhosis patients, but not significantly related to Child-Pugh classification. Five-year mortality was 67%. High neopterin levels (>upper quartile) were an independent predictor of death (p=0.01, Log rank and p<0.02, Cox). High IL-8 levels (>upper quartile) were of no significant prognostic value for overall mortality. Causes of death related mortality were as follows (Log rank): Neopterin; p=0.009, p=0.84 and p=0.94, and IL-8; p=0.36, p=0.002 and p=0.27, respectively, according to infection, bleeding and coma as causes of death. Conclusions: Neopterin and IL-8 plasma levels are raised in patients with alcohol-induced cirrhosis, and are predictive of mortality associated with infections and upper gastrointestinal bleeding, respectively. [source]

IL-1,, IL-1ra and IL-8 are differentially induced by Candida in experimental oral candidiasis

ORAL DISEASES, Issue 4 2007
JAMS Jayatilake
Objective:, To investigate the expression of interleukin-1, (IL-1,), IL-1ra and IL-8 by the oral epithelium challenged by various Candida species. Materials and methods:,In vitro candidiasis was induced by C. albicans wild type SC5314, its EFG1, CPH1 and secretory aspartyl proteinase (SAP) mutants and, ATCC isolates of C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. dubliniensis using a reconstituted human oral epithelium (RHOE) model. IL-1,, IL-1ra and IL-8 levels in culture media were quantified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at 12, 24 and 48 h. Fungal invasion and IL-1ra expression in RHOE were detected by periodic acid-Schiff staining and immunohistochemistry. Results:, Overall, the invasive Candida induced relatively higher levels of IL-1,, IL-1ra and IL-8 in the culture media than the noninvasive isolates. IL-1, and IL-1ra levels induced by Candida with hyphal invasion were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those induced by the isolates without hyphal invasion at 12, 24 and 48 h. Candida albicans SC5314 induced IL-1ra expression in RHOE at 12 and 24 h but not at 48 h consistent with its hyphal invasion; while the noninvasive mutants and non- albicans Candida induced IL-1ra expression at 48 h. Conclusions:, The cytokine expression profiles in experimental oral candidiasis may be associated with the invasive potential of Candida. [source]

Non-invasive markers of airway inflammation and remodeling in childhood asthma

PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 8 2009
Rosalia Gagliardo
To evaluate the relationship between pro-inflammatory and pro-remodeling mediators and severity and control of asthma in children, the levels of IL-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1 in induced sputum supernatants, the number of sputum eosinophils, as well as FeNO, were investigated in 35 asthmatic children, 12 with intermittent (IA) and 23 with moderate asthma (MA), and 9 controls (C). The patients with asthma were followed for 1 yr and sputum was obtained twice during the follow-up. Biomarker levels were correlated with the number of exacerbations. We found that IL-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and the numbers of eosinophils in induced sputum, as well as FeNO, were increased in children with IA and MA in comparison to C. The ongoing inflammation was confirmed by increased nuclear p65 NF-,B subunit localization in sputum cells. In MA, FeNO measurements, sputum eosinophils and IL-8 levels, positively correlated with the occurrence of disease exacerbations during a 1-yr follow-up. According to FeNO, sputum eosinophils and IL-8 sputum concentrations, and the number of exacerbations, two distinct phenotypes of MA were identified. This study shows that the presence of bronchial inflammation is detectable in the airways of some IA, as well as in the airways of MA, despite the regular ICS treatment. This study also proposes the need to perform large prospective studies to confirm the importance of measuring specific biomarkers in induced sputum, concomitantly to FeNO analyses, to assess sub-clinical airway inflammation and disease control in children with asthma. [source]

Relationships among specific viral pathogens, virus-induced interleukin-8, and respiratory symptoms in infancy

PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 6 2002
James E. Gern
Both virus-mediated damage to airway tissues and induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) could contribute to symptom severity during viral respiratory infections in children. To test the hypothesis that IL-8 contributes to the pathogenesis of respiratory symptoms during naturally acquired respiratory viral infections in children, nasal wash samples collected from infants with acute viral infections (n = 198) or from healthy uninfected infants (n = 31) were analysed for IL-8. Nasal wash IL-8 was positively related to age in uninfected children (rs = 0.36, p,<,0.05). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection caused more severe respiratory symptoms compared to infections with influenza A, parainfluenza viruses, or rhinoviruses. In addition, RSV, parainfluenza and rhinovirus infections increased levels of IL-8 in nasal lavage fluid, and there were some differences in the ability of the viruses to induce IL-8 production (RSV>influenza, p,<,0.05). Finally, there were significant correlations between nasal wash IL-8 levels and symptom scores during infections with rhinovirus (rs = 0.56, p,<,0.001) or influenza A (rs = 0.45, p,<,0.05), but not with parainfluenza virus or RSV. These findings provide evidence of a close relationship between the generation of IL-8 and symptoms during acute community-acquired infections with rhinovirus or influenza A. In contrast, for RSV and parainfluenza infections, factors in addition to IL-8 production appear to contribute to the generation of clinical symptoms. [source]

Probiotic supplementation affects pulmonary exacerbations in patients with cystic fibrosis: A pilot study

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 6 2010
Batia Weiss MD
Abstract Objective Probiotics reduce intestinal inflammation in, and Lactobacillus GG (LGG) reduces pulmonary exacerbation rate cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. We intended to determine the effect of a mixed probiotic preparation on pulmonary exacerbations and inflammatory characteristics of the sputum in CF patients. Study Design A prospective pilot study of 10 CF patients with mild,moderate lung disease and Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization, treated with probiotics for 6 months. Pulmonary function tests (PFT's), sputum cultures with semi-quantitative bacterial analysis, and sputum neutrophil count and interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels were compared to pre-treatment and post-treatment values. The rate of pulmonary exacerbations was compared to 2 years prior to the study. Results The exacerbation rate was significantly reduced in comparison to the previous 2 years and to 6 months post-treatment (P,=,0.002). PFT's have not changed at the end of treatment and during 6 months post-treatment. No change in sputum bacteria, neutrophil count, and IL-8 levels was observed. Conclusion Probiotics reduce pulmonary exacerbations rate in patients with CF. Probiotics may have a preventive potential for pulmonary deterioration in CF patients. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:536,540. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Markers of airway inflammation in primary ciliary dyskinesia studied using exhaled breath condensate

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
MRCPCH, Nadwa Zihlif MD
Abstract Macroscopically, the airways in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) are inflamed and infected, and the eventual result is bronchiectasis. The measurement of noninvasive markers of inflammation in PCD may allow determination of mechanisms of tissue damage, and even allow monitoring of therapy. The aim of this study was to measure in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of children with PCD the concentrations of the neutrophil chemoattractants leukotriene (LT) B4 and interleukin (IL)-8 and the marker of oxidative stress 8-isoprostane (8-IP), and to try determining whether these markers can be used to assess mechanisms of airway inflammation in these patients. Concentrations of LTB4, IL-8, and 8-IP in the EBC of 23 PCD and 11 age-matched healthy children were measured using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The children also performed spirometry and underwent sputum induction, the latter for differential cell count. The concentrations of 8-IP in EBC of children with stable PCD were significantly increased compared to normal controls (median, 7.8 pg/ml vs. 3.1 pg/ml; P,=,0.004). There was no difference in the median concentrations of EBC LTB4 between PCD subjects and healthy controls (28 pg/ml vs. 28 pg/ml; P,=,0.5). IL-8 levels were below the detection limit of the assay, and were not analyzed further. There was no correlation between concentrations of either 8-IP or LTB4 in EBC and forced expired volume in 1 sec in PCD children. Sputum induction was successful in 83% of the subjects; the median induced sputum neutrophil count was 69% (interquartile range, 59.3,73.6). No significant correlation was found between sputum neutrophils and either EBC 8-IP or LTB4 concentrations in PCD children. This study showed that oxidative stress, as reflected by increased exhaled 8-IP concentration, is increased in PCD children. The mechanism of airway neutrophilia is unclear, but is unlikely to be related to increased production of LTB4, at least in stable PCD patients. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Maternal Circulating TNF-, Levels are Highly Correlated with IL-10 Levels, but not IL-6 and IL-8 Levels, in Women with Pre-Eclampsia

Alterations in Syncytiotrophoblast Cytokine Expression Following Treatment with Lipopolysaccharide

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1 2006
Yuehong Ma
Problem, The placental syncytium is a differentiated cell type on the surface of the villus that has the potential to release cytokines directly to maternal blood. Responsiveness of this cell type to inflammatory compounds remains largely unelucidated. Method of study, Response to a pro-inflammatory (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) and an anti-inflammatory (dexamethasone, DEX) compound was studied in primary cultures of syncytiotrophoblasts (SCTs). Cells were incubated with and without LPS and DEX. Cytokine levels in conditioned media were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and proteome arrays. Results, LPS treatment induced a fourfold increase in interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels in SCTs. LPS enhanced the expression of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in SCTs. DEX treatment reduced IL-8 levels in control and LPS-treated cultures by 70,90%. Conclusion, Cytokine expression in SCTs was enhanced by LPS treatment and this effect was suppressed by glucocorticoid treatment. This suggests that inflammatory compounds may alter cytokine expression in the syncytium throughout gestation. [source]

Is procalcitonin a reliable marker for the diagnosis of infected pancreatic necrosis?

ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 7 2004
Nadir Yonetci
Background: Infected necrosis in acute pancreatitis is the main factor in determining the prognosis of the disease. Early and accurate diagnosis of infected pancreatic necrosis might decrease mortality. The aim of the present study is to identify a reliable marker for the onset infection in three different experimentally induced pancreatitis models. Methods: Ninety female Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into nine groups. In three different experimental models, including cerulein induced acute oedematous pancreatitis (AEP), sterile pancreatic necrosis due to taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis (SPN) and infected pancreatic necrosis taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis (IPN). Serum levels of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor a (TNF-,), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8), amylase were measured. The degree of pancreatic damage also evaluated pathologically. Results: Procalcitonin levels were increased significantly in AEP, SPN and IPN compared to control groups (P < 0.05). PCT and IL-6 level were the highest in the IPN group (P < 0.05). Serum amylase, CRP, TNF-,, IL-2, and IL-8 levels were similar between IPN and SPN groups (P > 0.05), but higher than in other groups. The results of histological evaluation also correlated with the advent of the disease. Conclusion: Procalcitonin and IL-6 acts as reliable acute phase reactant in an experimental model of AEP, SPN and IPN in the rat. PCT and IL-6 combination might be surrogate marker of infected pancreatic necrosis and should be preferred to other markers assay especially in severe pancreatitis. [source]

Inhaled corticosteroid therapy reduces cytokine levels in sputum from very preterm infants with chronic lung disease

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 1 2009
Rie Honda
Abstract Aim: To evaluate the effects of inhaled corticosteroid therapy and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (oscillation) on preterm infants with chronic lung disease (CLD). Methods: Ten infants with CLD who received inhaled corticosteroid therapy were enrolled. Week 1 was defined as the first week of therapy. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-8, tumour necrosis factor-, (TNF-,), IL-1,, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12p70 in serial sputum specimens from the infants were determined using a cytometric bead array. Results: The sputum concentrations of IL-8 obtained from the infants during week 3,4 were significantly lower than those obtained before therapy and during week 1,2. The sputum concentrations of TNF-,, IL-6 and IL-10 during week 3,4 were significantly lower than the concetrations during week 1,2. The ratio of IL-8 levels during week 1,2 to those before therapy in infants who received oscillation (n = 4) was significantly lower than in those who received intermittent mandatory ventilation (n = 6). Conclusion: Inhaled corticosteroids may be associated with a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in sputum from infants with CLD from 2 weeks after the start of therapy. Our further investigations suggest that therapy with oscillation modulated airway inflammation earlier than therapy with intermittent mandatory ventilation. [source]

Immunological response to cytomegalovirus in congenitally infected neonates

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
J. Hassan
Summary Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of congenital infection worldwide and occurs as a result of transplacental transmission of the virus. The human neonate is highly susceptible to infection due to a combination of immaturity of the immune system and antigenic inexperience. This study uses the in vivo model of congenital CMV to examine both the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in vertically infected neonates and their mothers. Ten pairs of matched neonates and their mothers were evaluated for specific IgM responses to three immunodominant CMV antigens: pp38 (pUL80a), pp52 (pUL44) and pp150 (pUL32). In contrast to conventional enzyme immunoassay (EIA) testing for CMV-specific IgM, which found five of the mothers and four of the neonates to be positive, Western immunoblotting showed all 10 adults and nine newborns to be positive. Eight mothers and nine newborns had serological evidence of primary infection. All neonates showed a response to pp38, an assembly protein, nine responded to the pp52 immediate early antigen but only four had reactivity to the pp150 tegument associated protein. Of the mothers, eight had pp38 reactivity, 10 showed a response to the pp52 antigen and seven to the pp150 antigen. T cell-mediated immunity was assessed by measuring cytokines using a multiplex microarray assay. Levels of interferon (IFN)-, were high in both groups [mean ± standard error of the mean (s.e.m.): neonates = 657 ± 238 pg/ml, mothers = 1072 ± 677 pg/ml, pNS]; however, neonates had significantly higher levels of interleukin (IL)-8 (316 ± 136 pg/ml versus 48 ± 28 pg/ml, P < 0·005). Similar levels of IL-2, IL-7, IL-10 and IL-12 were measured in both groups, but levels of IL-1,, IL-1,, IL-4, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-, were either absent or low. In response to CMV, neonates and adults mount a predominant T helper 1 (Th1) response, as evidenced by the presence of IL-2, IL-8, IL-12 and IFN-, with concomitant lack of IL-4. These findings suggest that the neonate, when presented with infection in utero, is capable of mounting an individual response; however, the lower IFN-, and higher IL-8 levels suggest reduced immune responsiveness when compared to their adult counterparts. [source]

Feasibility of sputum induction in lung transplant recipients

CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2004
Jan WK Van Den Berg
Abstract:, Sputum induction (SI) is nowadays being applied as a non-invasive and safe method to investigate airway inflammation in pulmonary diseases. We investigated the feasibility of SI after lung transplantation (LTX), and compared sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cellular characteristics and interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels. Results were also compared with 11 healthy subjects. SI as performed between 26 and 1947 d after LTX in 19 recipients, was successful in 16 of 22 attempts (73%). Six patients failed to produce sputum after induction, mostly just post-LTX and with having a lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). The success rate in clinically stable patients after the first month post-LTX was 93%. Side-effects were absent. Sputum recovery, viability and squamous cell contamination were comparable between LTX patients and healthy subjects. In the LTX group, total cell counts, neutrophil percentages and IL-8 levels were much higher in SI than BAL (1.6 × 106/mL, 65.5% and 54.2 ng/mL vs. 0.1 × 106/mL, 3.0% and 0.01 ng/mL; p < 0.001). Although LTX-neutrophil percentages in SI and BAL correlated properly (, = 0.72, p = 0.04), both techniques are not interchangeable. We conclude that sputum induction is feasible, well tolerated, and without major side-effects in stable patients after the first month post-LTX. Induced sputum may be a useful tool to study inflammatory changes of the airways after LTX, and because of the large quantity of neutrophils sampled, especially for further studies on the pathogenesis of bronchiolitis obliterans. [source]