Expression of IFN-gamma-inducible protein; monocyte chemotactic proteins 1, 3, and 4; and eotaxin in T(H)1-and T(H)2-mediated lung diseases

Background: Chemokines are involved in the influx of leukocytes into the ai rways in inflammatory lung diseases. The differential cell recruitment char acteristic of T(H)1 versus T(H)2 immune responses may be associated with di fferential chemokine expression, Objective: We investigated the expression of chemokines; monocyte chemotact ic proteins (MCPs) 1, 3, and 4; eotaxin; and IFN-gamma -inducible protein 1 0 (IP-10) in both T(H)1- and T(H)2-mediated lung diseases. Methods: By usin g immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization, we examined the protein an d mRNA expression, respectively. in bronchoalveolar lavage and biopsy sampl es in subjects with asthma, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, and chronic bronchit is. Results: Increased immunoreactivity and mRNA expression of IP-10 and of the MCPs was found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and biopsy specimens of subjects with asthma and tuberculosis compared with that of control subjec ts (P < .005), IP-10, however. was particularly increased in subjects with sarcoidosis (P < .001), Eotaxin, on the other hand, was increased only in p atients with asthma when compared with control subjects (P < .005), Conclusion: This study demonstrates that MCP-1, MCP-3, and MCP-4 expression is not specifically associated with lung diseases characterized by a parti cular cytokine profile, In contrast, IP-10 is mostly expressed in T(H)1-med iated diseases, and eotaxin expression seems to be specifically associated with lung diseases of a T(H)2 cytokine profile.