Corticosteroids restore the balance between locally produced Th1 and Th2 cytokines and immunoglobulin isotypes to normal in sarcoid lung

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology 1997-04, Vol.108 (1), p.105-113
• Main Authors: MILBURN, H. J., POULTER, L. W., DILMEC, A., COCHRANE, G. M., KEMENY, D. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use; Adult; Aged; AIDS/HIV; Biological and medical sciences; bronchoalveolar lavage; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - immunology; corticosteroids; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin E - analysis; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Immunoglobulin Isotypes - immunology; Immunomodulators; Interferon-gamma - analysis; Interleukin-2 - analysis; Interleukin-4 - analysis; Lung - immunology; Lung - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Original; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; sarcoidosis; Sarcoidosis - drug therapy; Sarcoidosis - immunology; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th1/Th2; Th2 Cells - immunology
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1997.d01-979.x

In this study, we have investigated the balance between Th1‐ and Th2‐like activity in the lungs in sarcoidosis and have determined the effect of corticosteroid treatment on this. Twenty‐one patients with acute untreated sarcoidosis were investigated by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and compared with 11 normal volunteers. Sixteen of the sarcoid patients required corticosteroid therapy and seven of these were reinvestigated after 2–3 months' treatment. In order to assess Th1‐ and Th2‐like activity in the lungs, IgG subclasses and IgE were measured in BAL fluid and serum, and IL‐2, IL‐4 and interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) in BAL. In patients with untreated sarcoidosis, albumin‐corrected BAL/serum ratios for IgG4 and IgE were significantly reduced (IgG4, 1.04±0.18 (mean±s.e.m.); IgE 9.58±3.11) compared with those in normal controls (IgG4 5.3±0.72, P