Detection of cytokines in nasal lavage samples of patients with cystic fibrosis: comparison of two different cytokine detection assays

• Published in: BMC pulmonary medicine 2024-06, Vol.24 (1), p.286-6, Article 286
• Main Authors: Fuchs, Teresa, Zlamy, Manuela, Zöggeler, Thomas, Appelt, Dorothea, Niedermayr, Katharina, Siedl, Anja, Gasser, Verena, Eder, Johannes, Ellemunter, Helmut
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Airway management; Analysis; Antibodies; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - analysis; Biomarkers - metabolism; Bronchoscopy; Bronchus; Care and treatment; Child; Chlorides; Clinical trials; Comparative analysis; Cystic Fibrosis; Cystic Fibrosis - diagnosis; Cytokines; Cytokines - analysis; Cytokines - metabolism; Development and progression; Diagnosis; Dichloropropane; Female; Gene mutations; Genetic aspects; Health aspects; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammatory diseases; Interleukin 6; Interleukin-10 - analysis; Interleukin-10 - metabolism; Interleukin-17 - analysis; Interleukin-17 - metabolism; Interleukin-2 - analysis; Interleukin-2 - metabolism; Interleukin-6 - analysis; Interleukin-6 - metabolism; Lavage; Male; Nasal lavage; Nasal Lavage Fluid - chemistry; Neutrophils; Patient outcomes; Patients; Pediatrics; Sodium chloride; Sputum; Statistical analysis; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-2466; 1471-2466
• DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-03103-9

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic multisystem disorder. Inflammatory processes, which presumably begin early in infancy, play a crucial role in the progression of the disease. The detection of inflammatory biomarkers, especially in the airways, has therefore gained increasing attention. Due to improved treatment options, patients with CF produce less sputum. Nasal lavage samples therefore represent a promising alternative to induced sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage specimens. However, methodology of cytokine measurements is not standardised and comparisons of results are therefore often difficult. The aim of this study was to identify suitable detection methods of cytokines in nasal lavage samples by comparison of two different assays. Nasal lavage samples were obtained from the same patient at the same time by trained respiratory physiotherapists using a disposable syringe and 10 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride per nostril during outpatient visits. The cytokines IL-17 A, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-10 were measured using two different assays (BD™ and Milliplex®), which have already been applied in sputum and nasal lavage samples, despite different lower detection limits. 22 participants were included in the study. In 95.5% of measurements, values were below the limit of detection with respect to the BD™ assay. Only IL-6 could be detected in approximately half of the patients. Individual cytokine levels were considerably higher when measured with Milliplex®, which is also reflected in a statistically significant manner (p =