Chemokines, MMP-9 and PMN elastase in spontaneous sputum of sulfur mustard exposed civilians: Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study

• Published in: International immunopharmacology 2013-11, Vol.17 (3), p.958-963
• Main Authors: Pourfarzam, Shahryar, Yaraee, Roya, Hassan, Zuhair Mohammad, Yarmohammadi, Mohammad Ebrahim, Faghihzadeh, Soghrat, Soroush, Mohammad-Reza, Fallahi, Faramarz, Ardestani, Sussan K., Ebtekar, Massoumeh, Moaiedmohseni, Sakine, Naghizadeh, Mohammad-Mehdi, Ghasemi, Hassan, Shams, Jalaleddin, Ghazanfari, Tooba
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Chemical Warfare Agents - toxicity; Chemokines; Cohort Studies; Cytokines - analysis; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Humans; Iran - epidemiology; Leukocyte Elastase - analysis; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - analysis; Middle Aged; MMP-9; Mustard Gas - toxicity; PMN elastase; Sardasht-Iran; Sputum; Sputum - chemistry; Sulfur mustard; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1567-5769; 1878-1705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2012.12.015

Chemokines play an important role in acute and chronic pulmonary diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of chemokines, MMP-9, and PMN elastase in spontaneous sputum and serum of patients 20years after SM exposure. In context of Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study (SICS) 40 male volunteers with a history of SM exposure in June 1987 and complain of excessive sputum were recruited. The volunteers were clinically examined and their history was collected by internists. Sputum and serum levels of IL-8, fractalkine, MCP-1, RANTES, MMP-9, and PMN elastase were measured using ELISA kits (R&D System). Spirometries were performed on all the participants. Sputum level of fractalkine was significantly lower in the hospitalized group (N=16, Median=1.05; IQR=0.41–2.62) than non-hospitalized group (N=18, 4.031; IQR=0.947–8.203) (p=0.042). However, serum levels of fractalkine were higher in the hospitalized group (Mean±SD=2.08±5.09) than in the non-hospitalized (Mean±SD=0.53±0.87) group (T-test, p=0.03). Serum levels of PMN-elastase were also higher in the hospitalized group (Mean±SD; 64,794.43±26,820.08) than in the non-hospitalized group (Mean±SD=44,049.33±17,675.85) (p=0.017). There was no relationship between the cytokines and the studied factors in sputum and the GOLD classification, but the serum levels of fractalkine and MMP-9 were significantly higher in the more severe (grades 3–4) group. There was no significant correlation between sputum and serum levels of measured inflammatory mediators and pulmonary complications in the patients who were exposed to SM 20years earlier. Pathophysiologic process involved in SM induced pulmonary problems might be different from those in other chronic pulmonary diseases such as COPD and asthma. ► Sputum levels of fractalkine were significantly lower in Hospitalized group than serum levels. ► Serum levels of PMN-elastase were significantly higher in Hospitalized group. ► Serum levels of fractalkine and MMP-9 were higher in the severe (grade 3-4) group. ► There is no correlation between sputum and serum levels of these factors and lung complications in SM exposed group. ► Data represents that pathophysiologic process other than COPD may be involved in SM exposed patients.