Cytokine profiles in Wegener's granulomatosis - Predominance of type 1 (Th1) in the granulomatous inflammation

Objective. To determine whether a specific cytokine pattern (type 1 [Th1] o r type 2 [Th2]) predominates in Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), by evaluatin g interferon-gamma (iFN gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) expression in diffe rent compartments of the body (i.e., biopsied nasal mucosal tissue [NBS], b ronchoalveolar lavage [BAL] fluid, and peripheral blood [PB]) and comparing the findings with those in disease and healthy control subjects. Methods. Competitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PC R) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to assess IFN gamma and IL-4 expression in T cell clones (TCC), T cell lines (TCL), and polyclonal CD4+ and CD8+ cells derived from NBS, BAL, and PB. Results. Patients with WG and chronic rhinitis mere found to share in situ production of messenger RNA (mRNA) specific for IFN gamma (Th1). Only 2 pat ients with WG expressed IL-4, whereas IL-4 mRNA PCR products were found in inflamed tissues of the disease control patients. The granuloma-derived T c ells of WG patients produced only IFN gamma, while TCC, TCL, and CD4+ and C D8+ T cells from BAL and PB produced mainly IFN gamma. Conclusion. Our data indicate that a Th1 cytokine pattern predominates in t he granulomatous inflammation in patients with WG.