Elevated chemokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of tuberculosis patients

Abstract

In pulmonary tuberculosis, the proportion of lymphocytes, particularly that of CD4+ T lymphocytes, was increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), reflecting their protective role against mycobac­ terial infections. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of lymphocyte accumulation in lungs, we mea­ sured the levels of chemokines with potent lymphocyte chemotactic activities, including interleukin-8 (ll-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and, regulated on activation, normal T-cell ex­ pressed and secreted (RANTES) present in BALF from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in acute (n =10) and convalescent phases (n =6), as well as normal subjects (n =10). During the acute phase of the disease, the proportions of lymphocytes and neutrophils were increased, as reported in previous studies. The levels of Il-8, MCP-1, and RANTES in the acute phase of pulmonary tuberculosis were also markedly elevated as compared with those of normal subjects. MCP-1 and RANTES, but not Il-8levels present in BAlF, decreased in the convalescent phase. Moreover, the concentration of RANTES cor­ related significantly with the absolute number of CD4+ cells in BALF. These data suggest that chemotac­ tic cytokines are differentially produced and participate in the host response to Mycobacterium tubercu­ losis infection. Kunshlma K, Mublda N, FuJlmun M, Vasul M, N.kuuml V,~ T, .....shlma K. Eleyated chemoklne leyels In bronch~IYeolar laYage fluid of tuberculosis fNltlents. AM J RESPIRCRfT CARE MED 1997;155:1474-1477.