Cytokine profiling of pulmonary aspergillosis
Author:
Sambatakou H, Pravica V, Hutchinson IV, Denning DW
Date: 19 September 2006
Abstract:
Aspergillus fumigatus is ubiquitous and yet causes invasive, chronic and allergic disease of the lung. Chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis (CCPA) is a slowly destructive form of pulmonary aspergillosis, without immunocompromise. We hypothesized that CCPA cytokine gene polymorphisms would differ from patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and uninfected controls. We have profiled functional cytokine gene polymorphisms for interleukin (IL)-10, IL-15, transforming growth factors (TGF)-beta1, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma in patients with CCPA (n = 24) who were compared with other forms of aspergillosis (mostly ABPA) (n = 15) and with ethnically matched controls (n = 65-330). Results are described with reference to the high-producing genotype in each case. Susceptibility to aspergillosis (all patients compared with normal controls) was associated with higher frequency of the IL-15 +13689*A allele (OR = 2.37, P = 0.0028) and A/A genotype (chi(2) = 10.31, P < 0.001), with a lower frequency of the TNF-alpha-308*A/A genotype (chi(2) = 11.05, P < 0.01). Within the aspergillosis patients, CCPA is associated with lower frequency of the IL-10 -1082*G allele (OR = 0.38, P = 0.0006) and G/G genotype (chi(2) = 22.45, P < 0.001) and with a lower frequency of the TGF-beta1 +869 *T allele (OR +0.42, P < 0.0029) and T/T genotype (chi(2) = 17.82, P < 0.001) compared with non-CCPA patients and normal controls. Patients infected with Aspergillus appear to be higher producers of IL-15, a Th2-promoting cytokine, and lower producers of TNF-alpha, a cytokine central in protective responses. CCPA occurs in patients who are genetically lower producers of both IL-10 and TGF-beta1. As these cytokines are regulatory and anti-inflammatory, CCPA may be a consequence of poor inflammatory response control in the lung.
Download the full article (Disclaimer)
This manuscript library of ~16,000 articles (1729-2024) related to Aspergillus and aspergillosis is intended for individual study only, and is provided as contribution to global understanding of the topic. Please refer to the publisher’s guidance about any other usage.