Changes of interleukin-8, leukotriene B4 and myeloperoxidase in induced sputum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the effects of tiotropium

Objective To investigate the changes of interleukin-8(IL-8),leukotriene B4(LTB4) and myeloperoxidase(MPO) in induced sputum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)and the effects of tiotropium. To identify the anti-inflammatory function of tiotropium. Methods We admitted 30 moderate to very severe stable COPD patients as tiotropium pre-therapy. At the same time,the same patients as tiotropium post-therapy when they were received inhaled tiotropium 18μg · d-1 for one month. Ten age-matched healthy objects were included as controls. The following measurements were performed for each group:arterial blood gases,pulmonary function,cell diferentials in induced sputum,and concentrations of IL-8,LTB4 and MPO in induced sputum by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Analysis with Independent-Samples T Test, Paired-Samples T Test and Pearson correlate coefficients and so on. Results The concentrations of IL-8,LTB4,MPO in induced sputum in tiotropium pre-therapy group were significantly higher than those in group controls IL-8 [(777.05±392.43) pg · ml-1 vs (311. 27±135.93) pg· ml-1],LTB4 [(96. 70±29.13) pg· ml-1 vs (20.60±9.89) pg· ml-1],MPO [(23.50±16.77) U · ml-1 vs (10.52±3.55) U · ml-1 ],respectively. And the concentrations of IL-8,LTB4 in tiotropium pre-therapy group were also significantly higher than those in tiotropium post-therapy group IL-8[(777.05± 392.43) pg · ml-1 vs (408.93 ± 339.14) pg · ml-1 ], LTB4 [ (96.70 ± 29.13)pg · ml-1 vs (43.69± 16.49) pg · ml-1 ]. There were no significant changes either in cell counts or in the level of MPO in induced sputum. IL-8 was correlated with PaO2 ( r = - 0. 411 ), FEV1 % ( r = - 0.440),FVC%( r =-0.440),FEV1/FVC%( r = -0.417),respectively. Conclusions Cell diferentials,IL-8,LTB4 and MPO in induced sputum are different between COPD patients and healthy controls. Inhaledtiotropium therapy reduces the levels of IL-8,LTB4 in induced sputum in COPD patients. Key words: Pulmonary disease; Chronic obstructive;  Induced sputum; Tiotropium