• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.152-159
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• 2005

Background : Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are thought to be associated with increased airway inflammation, and the $NF-{\kappa}B$ is known to be an indicator of cellular activation and of inflammatory mediator production. This study was undertaken to investigate the change of cytokine characteristics and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity in induced sputum of COPD patients during exacerbation and recovery of the disease. Methods : Sputum induction was performed in 37 patients with COPD during exacerbation and during recovery and in 15 healthy subjects. Cell counts, levels of IL-6, IL-8 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ in induced sputum and NF-kB activity in macrophage of induced sputum were measured. Results : Patients with COPD showed significantly increased levels of IL-6, IL-8 and $TNF-{\alpha}$(p<0.01) and increased $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity in induced sputum(p<0.05) as compared with control subjects. Level of IL-8 during exacerbation of COPD decreased significantly during recovery(p<0.05). $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity and levels of IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ tended to be decreased during recovery, but not siginificantly. Conclusion : Activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and increased levels of IL-6, IL-8 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were thought to be associated with pathogenesis and exacerbations of COPD.