INCREASED IL-5 AND IL-10 TRANSCRIPTION IN BRONCHIAL CELLS AFTER SAUROPUS-ANDROGYNUS INGESTION

An outbreak of rapidly progressive obstructive lung disease in Taiwan was noted in some patients regularly ingesting the vegetable Sauropus androgynus because of its perceived weight reducing properties. Bronoc hoalveolar large (BAL) prior to administration of medication was perfo rmed in two women who had regularly ingested this vegetable and had de veloped obstructive ventilatory defects. Both patients showed a signif icant increase in neutrophils and, to a lesser extent, of eosinophils in the lavage fluid as compared to two unrelated controls. Interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-2, IL-5, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumor necr osis factor (TNF)-alpha in cells re covered from BAL fluid were analyz ed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Augmen ted expression of the IL-10 gene was detected in only two patients who had regularly ingested S. androgynus. Our results suggest that altere d cytokine expression and infiltration of eosinophils and neutrophils may be involved in the pathology of obstructive lung disease caused by regular ingestion of S. androgynus.