These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: DNA and actin bind and inhibit interleukin-8 function in cystic fibrosis sputa: in vitro effects of mucolytics.
    Author: Perks B, Shute JK.
    Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med; 2000 Nov; 162(5):1767-72. PubMed ID: 11069810.
    Abstract:
    Infection of the cystic fibrosis (CF) airways elicits an exaggerated, interleukin-8 (IL-8) mediated, neutrophil inflammatory response. Necrosing neutrophils release DNA and actin into the airways, increasing the viscoelasticity of airway secretions. Mucolytics aim to improve airway clearance by reducing this viscoelasticity. DNase I reduces the viscoelasticity of CF sputum, and a human recombinant form of this enzyme is widely administered to patients with CF. Gelsolin, which cleaves actin polymers, is also known to reduce CF sputum viscosity in vitro, and it has been proposed as a future mucolytic agent. We have shown that the anionic polymers DNA and actin bind and mask immunologic recognition of the basic peptide IL-8 and prevent this chemokine from binding to neutrophil receptors. Reduction of CF sputum viscosity by DNase I or gelsolin in vitro was demonstrated to increase the proportion of free IL-8 and the IL-8-dependent neutrophil chemotactic activity of sputum supernatants. We hypothesize that an electrostatic interaction between polymer and chemokine may limit the inflammatory potential of the latter, but that this interaction may be weakened by polymer cleavage. The potential risk of increased inflammation via this mechanism suggests a caveat should be attendant on treatment of patients with CF with these mucolytic agents.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]