Tuberc Respir Dis.  2005 Feb;58(2):152-159.

Nuclear Factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) Activity and Levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha in Induced Sputum in the Exacerbation and Recovery of COPD Patients

• Song SH
• Kim CH
• Kwon SS
• Kim YK
• Kim KH
• Moon HS
• Song JS
• Park SH

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are thought to be associated with increased airway inflammation, and the NF-kappa B is known to be an indicator of cellular activation and of inflammatory mediator production. This study was undertaken to investigate the change of cytokine characteristics and NF-kappa B activity in induced sputum of COPD patients during exacerbation and recovery of the disease.
METHODS
Sputum induction was performed in 37 patients with COPD during exacerbation and during recovery and in 15 healthy subjects. Cell counts, levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha in induced sputum and NF-kappa B activity in macrophage of induced sputum were measured.
RESULTS
Patients with COPD showed significantly increased levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha(p<0.01) and increased NF-kappa B activity in induced sputum(p<0.05) as compared with control subjects. Level of IL-8 during exacerbation of COPD decreased significantly during recovery(p<0.05). NF-kappa B activity and levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha tended to be decreased during recovery, but not siginificantly.
CONCLUSION
Activation of NF-kappa B and increased levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were thought to be associated with pathogenesis and exacerbations of COPD.

Keyword

COPD; exacerbation; NF-kappa B; IL-6; IL-8; TNF-alpha

MeSH Terms

Cell Count
Humans
Inflammation
Interleukin-6*
Interleukin-8*
Macrophages
NF-kappa B
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive*
Sputum*
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*
Interleukin-6
Interleukin-8
NF-kappa B
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha