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. 2009;78(3):256-62.
doi: 10.1159/000221902. Epub 2009 May 27.

Sputum IL-5 concentration is associated with a sputum eosinophilia and attenuated by corticosteroid therapy in COPD

M Bafadhel  1 , S Saha, R Siva, M McCormick, W Monteiro, P Rugman, P Dodson, I D Pavord, P Newbold, C E Brightling
Affiliations

Sputum IL-5 concentration is associated with a sputum eosinophilia and attenuated by corticosteroid therapy in COPD

M Bafadhel et al. Respiration. 2009.

Abstract

Background: Airway inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is predominately neutrophilic, but some subjects demonstrate eosinophilic airway inflammation. Whether these inflammatory phenotypes have differential cytokine and chemokine expression is unknown.

Objectives: To assess the sputum concentrations of cytokines and chemokines and their response to oral corticosteroid therapy in COPD subjects with or without a sputum eosinophilia.

Methods: Cytokine and chemokine concentrations were measured using the meso-scale device platform. To assess validity, recovery of exogenous spikes was examined. The concentrations of the validated mediators were measured in COPD sputum from subjects with or without a sputum eosinophilia. In a subgroup with a sputum eosinophilia, the response to oral prednisolone 10 mg for 1 month was examined.

Results: The recovery in sputum of exogenous spiked mediators was >80% in 11/26 cytokines and chemokines. In supernatants from eosinophilic (n = 39) versus non-eosinophilic (n = 59) sputa, the geometric mean (95% CI) concentration was increased for IL-5 [9.0 (4.5-18) pg/ml vs. 3.6 (2.7-6.3) pg/ml, p = 0.03]. IL-5 alone was correlated with sputum eosinophil counts (r = 0.33, p = 0.001), and was attenuated following treatment with prednisolone [n = 9; mean difference 2.3 pg/ml (0.2-4.3), p = 0.032].

Conclusion: We have validated the use of the meso-scale device platform for cytokine and chemokine measurements in the sputum supernatants in COPD. Sputum IL-5 was associated with a sputum eosinophilia and was attenuated following oral corticosteroid therapy. Whether this cytokine is important in the pathogenesis of COPD in a subgroup of patients warrants further investigation.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Percentage recovery of exogenous spike of cytokine and chemokines to COPD sputum and buffer samples (n = 5). Horizontal bar set at 65% recovery to highlight analytes with sufficient recovery from sputum. Asterisked analytes considered to be valid assays, with recovery of >80% from sputum compared to buffer. Data presented as mean (SEM).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mean IL-5 concentrations in subjects according to sputum eosinophil (<3 or ≥3%) counts at baseline visit.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Correlation between sputum IL-5 concentration and sputum eosinophil differential cell count.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
IL-5 concentration (pg/ml; a) and sputum eosinophil count (%; b) before and after oral prednisolone for 1 month (n = 9).
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