Alpha-1-antitrypsin and Regulatory T cell cytokines in lungs of Cystic
fibrosis patients
Abstract
Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a pulmonary disease leading to the
destruction of lung tissue caused by repeated infection with typical
pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). Different T cell subsets, an
imbalance in cytokine levels and a protease-antiprotease imbalance play
a role. This study aimed to investigate the potential influence of
alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) on various cytokines in CF. Methods: Levels
of AAT and T-helper-cell-associated cytokines (GM-CSF, IL2, IL6, IL10,
IL12p70, IL13, IL17, IL21, IL23, TGFβ,) have been measured in
supernatant of induced sputum of CF patients and compared between
patients who tested positive for PA (PA-positive) and those who tested
negative (PA-negative). Results: Measurements have been performed for
17 CF patients (mean age 14.16 (±4.22) years, 9 female/8 male, 9
PA-positive, 8 PA-negative). AAT correlates with Treg-associated
cytokines IL10 and IL12p70 (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05
respectively), a borderline significance with TGFβ exists (p = 0.06).
AAT and Treg-associated cytokines IL10, IL12p70 and TGFβ are lower in
PA-positive CF patients compared to PA-negative CF patients (24.78 vs.
41.1 pg/ml, p = 0.69, 0.14 vs. 0.26 ng/ml, p = 0.68, 0.17 vs. 0.41
ng/ml, p = 0.32 and 109.32 vs. 227.96 ng/ml, p = 0.85, respectively).
GM-CSF significantly correlates with AAT (r=0.75; p<0.05) and
Treg-associated cytokines IL2, IL10, IL12p70, IL13 and TGFβ (r=0.93;
p<0.001, r=0.9; p<0.01, r=0.73; p<0.05, r=0.97;
p<0.001 and r=0.88; p<0.01, respectively). Conclusion:
In this cross-sectional study AAT correlates with Treg-associated
cytokines. Higher levels of AAT are observed in PA-negative CF patients.