[IL-8 and T-lymphocytes expressing adhesion molecules LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18), Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) Lsel in lower respiratory tract obstructive disease]

Abstract

Chemokines and T-lymphocytes play an important role in lower respiratory tract inflammation. This study evaluated the concentration of IL-8 and count of T-lymphocytes expressing adhesion molecules LFA-1, Mac-1, Lsel and their correlation in patients with asthma and COPD in periods of exacerbation and clinical improvement (after seven days of anti-inflammatory treatment). In all subjects bronchoscopic examination with BAL procedure were done in exacerbation period and after seven days of treatment. The concentration of IL-8 was measured by ELISA, and the expression of adhesion molecules by biotin-streptavidin methods. The highest concentration of IL-8 was observed in asthma patients in clinical improvement period, and the highest count of T-lymphocytes was observed in patients with COPD in remission phase. Increased concentration of chemokines could have been influenced by type of treatment administered, especially beta 2-mimetics. The significant correlation observed in COPD patients between IL-8 concentration and counts of T-cells expressing LFA-1 (r = 0.44), Mac-1 (r = 0.49), Lsel (r = 0.42) in exacerbation period suggest a chemotactic influence of IL-8 on T-lymphocytes.