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: Elevated levels of beta-D-glucan in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with farmer's lung in Miyazaki, Japan.
    Author: Ashitani J, Kyoraku Y, Yanagi S, Matsumoto N, Nakazato M.
    Journal: Respiration; 2008; 75(2):182-8. PubMed ID: 17202807.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Farmers may be often exposed to beta-D-glucan in moldy hay, since straw for feed can be stored throughout the year. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to clarify whether levels of beta-D-glucan, which modifies immune responses, are high in the respiratory tract in farmer's lung and whether beta-D-glucan participates in the pathogenesis of this condition. METHODS: We measured beta-D-glucan levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of 10 patients with farmer's lung, 4 with summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) and 10 healthy volunteers. Interleukin (IL)-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels in BALF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We investigated the effects of beta-D-glucan on nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation and on the release of IL-8 and TNF-alpha from small airway epithelial cells (SAECs) in vitro. RESULTS: beta-D-Glucan levels in the BALF of farmer's lung patients were increased compared to those in patients with summer-type HP and in healthy volunteers. Additionally, IL-8 levels in BALF were higher in farmer's lung than in summer-type HP, and TNF-alpha levels were equal in the two patient groups but raised compared to those in healthy volunteers. High, but not low, concentrations of beta-D-glucan were found to induce NF-kappaB activation in SAECs. IL-8 levels in the supernatant obtained from SAEC cultures were increased following the addition of beta-D-glucan in vitro. CONCLUSION: BALF from farmer's lung patients showed high beta-D-glucan levels, which may enhance the expression and release of cytokines through NF-kappaB activation in respiratory epithelial cells.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]