Cytokine status and nitrosative stress indicators in patients with an exacerbation of COPD

Objective: To investigate the contentsmetabolites of nitric oxide and concentration of cytokines γ-INF, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-8 in various biological fluids at patients with exacerbation of COPD. Materials and methods: We examined 49 patients 44-69 years old (62 ± 4,8) with COPD II (n = 22) and stage III (n = 27) and 30 healthy non-smokers. Results: Progressive increase of level NO₂^- in the blood with growth of a degree of severe COPD is established. In comparison with the control group the content of NO_2- of patients of II stage COPD exceeded the parameter values in 1,35 times (3,8±0,3 µM, p=0,036) and of patients of III stage in 2,1 times (5,87±0,77 µM, p=0,006). It was obtained the increase in total concentrationof ΣNO₃^-/NO₂^- in an exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of patients with COPD in comparison with control group (5,57±1,1 µM). The serum levels of γ-INF, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-8 has been increased at patients of a II and III stage COPDin comparison with the healthy non-smoking volunteers. The negative correlation between the level of γ-INF in the serum and the indicators of lung function FEV₁, FEV₁/FIVC (r = -0.47 p=0.01, r= -0.43 p=0.02) was obtained. The associations between the level ΣNO₃^-/NO₂^- in EBC and the serum concentration of γ-INF (r=0.46 p=0.04), IL-1β (r=0.86 p=0.002), IL-4 (r=0.72 p=0.01) and IL-8 (r=0.74 p=0.01) were founded. Conclusions: The discovered results indicate the joint participation of metabolites of nitric oxide and cytokines γ-INF, IL-1β, IL-4 in the formation mechanisms of systemic and local inflammation in patients with COPD.