HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplementary methods Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Imaoka, H. Articles by Aizawa, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Imaoka, H. Articles by Aizawa, H.

Interleukin-18 production and pulmonary function in COPD

¹ Division of Respirology, Neurology and Rheumatology, Dept of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, ³ Dept of Pathology and ⁴ 4th Dept of Internal Medicine, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, and ² Division of Pathology and Cell Biology, Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.

CORRESPONDENCE: T. Hoshino, Division of Respirology, Neurology and Rheumatology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan, Fax: 81 942317560. E-mail: hosino{at}med.kurume-u.ac.jp

Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease clinical/basic investigations, cytokine production

Received: February 16, 2007
Accepted October 24, 2007

Interleukin (IL)-18 production and pulmonary function were evaluated in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in order to determine the role of IL-18 in COPD.

Immunohistochemical techniques were used to examine IL-18 production in the lungs of patients with very severe COPD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage IV, n = 16), smokers (n = 27) and nonsmokers (n = 23). Serum cytokine levels and pulmonary function were analysed in patients with GOLD stage I–IV COPD (n = 62), smokers (n = 34) and nonsmokers (n = 47).

Persistent and severe small airway inflammation was observed in the lungs of ex-smokers with very severe COPD. IL-18 proteins were strongly expressed in alveolar macrophages, CD8+ T-cells, and both the bronchiolar and alveolar epithelia in the lungs of COPD patients. Serum levels of IL-18 in COPD patients and smokers were significantly higher than those in nonsmokers. Moreover, serum levels of IL-18 in patients with GOLD stage III and IV COPD were significantly higher than in smokers and nonsmokers. There was a significant negative correlation between serum IL-18 level and the predicted forced expiratory volume in one second in patients with COPD. In contrast, serum levels of IL-4, IL-13 and interferon- were not significantly increased in any of the three groups.

In conclusion, overproduction of interleukin-18 in the lungs may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K.-O. Larsen, B. Lygren, I. Sjaastad, K. A. Krobert, K. Arnkvaern, G. Florholmen, A.-K. R. Larsen, F. O. Levy, K. Tasken, O. H. Skjonsberg, et al. Diastolic dysfunction in alveolar hypoxia: a role for interleukin-18-mediated increase in protein phosphatase 2A Cardiovasc Res, October 1, 2008; 80(1): 47 - 54. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]