Lung Cytokines and Systemic Inflammation in Patients with COPD

Authors

Alessandra Morello Gearhart, University of Louisville School of Medicine Division of PulmonaryFollow
Rodrigo Cavallazzi, University of LouisvilleFollow
Paula Peyrani, University of LouisvilleFollow
Timothy L. Wiemken, University of LouisvilleFollow
Stephen P. Furmanek, University of LouisvilleFollow
Andrea Reyes-Vega, University of LouisvilleFollow
Umair Gauhar, University of LouisvilleFollow
Hiram Rivas-Perez, University of LouisvilleFollow
Jesse Roman, University of Louisville School of Medicine Division of PulmonaryFollow
Julio A. Ramirez, University of LouisvilleFollow
Rafael Fernandez-Botran, University of LouisvilleFollow

Funder

National Institutes of Health

Abstract

Rationale: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by lung and systemic inflammation. The role of cytokines in local and systemic inflammation in COPD is not well understood. This study aimed to compare plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cytokine levels in COPD and non-COPD subjects with the intent of better understand their potential roles in driving local and systemic inflammation.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 65 subjects: 31 with COPD confirmed by spirometry and 34 non-COPD controls. All subjects underwent spirometry, plasma sample collection, and bronchoscopy/BAL. Levels of 21 inflammatory cytokines were measured in the plasma (systemic inflammation) and BAL (lung inflammation) using a multiplex assay.

Results:COPD subjects were overall older (median age 59 vs 36; p =

Conclusion: Elevated levels of cytokines were identified in the plasma of COPD subjects when compared to controls, supporting the role of these mediators as one of the mechanisms of systemic inflammation in COPD. In contrast, lung cytokines were not elevated suggesting that inflammation in the setting of COPD may not originate and/or perpetuate in the lungs, or that the BAL fluid is not an optimal source of information when evaluating inflammation in COPD. Although the role of these cytokines remains uncertain, anti-cytokine therapy might modulate inflammation in COPD and perhaps improve outcomes.

DOI

10.18297/jri/vol1/iss4/4

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Morello Gearhart, Alessandra; Cavallazzi, Rodrigo; Peyrani, Paula; Wiemken, Timothy L.; Furmanek, Stephen P.; Reyes-Vega, Andrea; Gauhar, Umair; Rivas-Perez, Hiram; Roman, Jesse; Ramirez, Julio A.; and Fernandez-Botran, Rafael (2017) "Lung Cytokines and Systemic Inflammation in Patients with COPD," The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections: Vol. 1 : Iss. 4 , Article 4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18297/jri/vol1/iss4/4
Available at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/jri/vol1/iss4/4