Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2008 Mar;18(1):46-53.

The Role of TNF-alpha in Eosinophilic Inflammation of RSV Bronchiolitis

• Choi J
• Huh K
• Kim HB
• Youn UK
• Kim CK

Abstract

PURPOSE: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and eosinophilic inflammation have their role in asthma, but there were no studies on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. The aim of our study was to investigate whether TNF-alpha has a role in eosinophilic inflammation of lower respiratory tract infections with RSV and has the correlation with other cytokines.
METHODS
Fifty children with first RSV bronchiolitis (RSV group) and 18 healthy children without any respiratory symptom and sign (control group) were enrolled. Clinical data, such as eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), were analyzed. We measured interleukin (IL)-5, IL-8, TNF-alpha, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon (IFN)-gamma, eotaxin, and regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in nasal lavage fluid in both groups.
RESULTS
Eotaxin, GM-CSF, IL-8, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha were higher in the RSV group than the control group. TNF-alpha correlated with an eosinophil-active cytokine, GM-CSF (r=0.86, P<0.0001), IFN-gamma (r=0.90, P<0.0001), and with eosinophil-active C-C chemokines such as eotaxin (r=0.50, P<0.0001). TNF-alpha also correlated with proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-8 (r= 0.81, P<0.0001).
CONCLUSION
TNF-alpha correlated with eosinophil-active chemokines and cytokines. Therefore, TNF-alpha may have a role in eosinophilic inflammation in children with RSV bronchiolitis.

Keyword

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Respiratory syncytial virus; Eosinophilic inflammation; Bronchiolitis

MeSH Terms

Asthma
Bronchiolitis
Chemokines
Chemokines, CC
Child
Cytokines
Eosinophil Cationic Protein
Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin
Eosinophils
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
Granulocytes
Humans
Inflammation
Interferons
Interleukin-8
Interleukins
Nasal Lavage Fluid
Respiratory Syncytial Viruses
Respiratory Tract Infections
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Chemokines
Chemokines, CC
Cytokines
Eosinophil Cationic Protein
Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
Interferons
Interleukin-8
Interleukins
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha