Cytokine gene polymorphisms and BALF cytokine levels in interstitial lung diseases

Summary Background The aim of our study is to investigate correlations of T H 1/T H 2 cytokine gene polymorphisms and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytokine values in interstitial lung diseases (ILD). Methods In 16 sarcoidosis, 7 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and 8 hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) patients we evaluated IL-1α, -1R, -1RA, -2, -4, -4Rα, -6, -10, -12, IFN-γ, TGF-β1 and TNF-α gene polymorphisms in peripheral blood, and MCP-1,MIP-1α, MIP-1β, RANTES, ENA-78, FGF, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-1RA, IL-1β, -2, -4, -5, -6, -8, -10, -17, TNF-α, Tpo and VEGF values in BALF. Results We found higher TNF-α values in IL-1R pst 1970 TT homozygotes regardless of diagnosis ( p  = 0.0126). In the sarcoidosis group IL-4Rα(+1902)AA and IL-10(−1082)G allele correlated with higher BALF ENA-78 levels ( p  = 0.0258, p  = 0.0230). In the HP group the IL-6(−174)CG and IL-6(nt565)AG correlated with higher ENA-78 BALF levels ( p  = 0.0253). In the IPF group the IL-1β +3962 CC homozygotes had lower IL-1RA BALF values ( p  = 0.046). BALF chemokine values did not differ between ILD subgroups, except for IL-8, which was higher in stage III sarcoidosis patients compared to stage I. Conclusion Our results show a probable influence of gene polymorphisms, namely IL-4Rα and IL-10 on ENA-78 BALF levels in sarcoidosis, IL-6 on ENA-78 BALF levels in HP and IL-1-β on IL-1RA BALF values in the IPF group. The TNF-α BALF values correlated with IL-1R pst 1970 gene polymorphisms.