Cytokine profile in the sputum of subjects with post-tuberculosis airflow obstruction and in those with tobacco related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have shown that tuberculosis (TB) is a risk factor for chronic airflow limitation. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is recognized as the result of chronic inflammation, usually related to noxious particles. Post-TB airflow obstruction (post-TB/AFO) and tobacco-related COPD (COPD/tobacco) have the same functional pathway characterized by persistent airflow limitation. We sought to compare the profile of 29 cytokines in the sputum of subjects with post-TB/AFO and those with COPD/tobacco. Results: The forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV 1 ) and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FEV 1 /FVC) ratio were lower in the COPD/tobacco subgroup compared to the COPD/post-TB subgroup. The stages of the disease were more advanced in COPD / tobacco patients. Among the cytokines, IL-1α, IL-1β, MIP-1β, sCD40L and VEGF levels were higher in COPD patients, compared to the controls with p values ​​of 0.003, 0.0001, 0.03, 0.0001 and 0.02 respectively. When the two COPD subgroups were compared, IL-1α, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-8 levels were higher in the COPD/tobacco subgroup compared to the COPD/post-TB subgroup with p-values ​​of 0.031, 0.05, 0.021 and 0.016 respectively. Conclusion: COPD/tobacco is more severe than post-TB/AFO. The pathogenesis of post-TB/AFO appears to involve the cytokines IL-1RA, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-17, GRO and sCD40L, while COPD/tobacco involves more cytokines.