A Yokoyama, N Kohno, S Fujino, H Hamada, Y Inoue, S Fujioka, S Ishida and K Hiwada
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan.

Circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were determined using a sensitive enzyme immunoassay in adults with asthma in stable condition during naturally occurring attacks and before and after allergen inhalation tests. IL-6 was significantly elevated even in asymptomatic asthmatic subjects (n = 17) compared with normal control subjects (n = 17). During naturally occurring asthmatic attacks, serum IL-6 levels were significantly elevated in comparison with those in a symptom-free condition (4 wk interval; n = 8, p < 0.01). No significant difference was observed in serum IL-6 levels obtained from control asymptomatic asthmatic subjects during the period (n = 10). There was a significant elevation in circulating IL-6 levels in eight asthmatic patients following inhalation of allergen but not methacholine. These results suggest that IL-6 is involved in the pathophysiology of bronchial asthma.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. A. Neveu, J. B. Allard, O. Dienz, M. J. Wargo, G. Ciliberto, L. A. Whittaker, and M. Rincon IL-6 Is Required for Airway Mucus Production Induced by Inhaled Fungal Allergens J. Immunol., August 1, 2009; 183(3): 1732 - 1738. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. Duan, T. So, and M. Croft Antagonism of Airway Tolerance by Endotoxin/Lipopolysaccharide through Promoting OX40L and Suppressing Antigen-Specific Foxp3+ T Regulatory Cells J. Immunol., December 15, 2008; 181(12): 8650 - 8659. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Finotto, T. Eigenbrod, R. Karwot, I. Boross, A. Doganci, H. Ito, N. Nishimoto, K. Yoshizaki, T. Kishimoto, S. Rose-John, et al. Local blockade of IL-6R signaling induces lung CD4+ T cell apoptosis in a murine model of asthma via regulatory T cells Int. Immunol., June 1, 2007; 19(6): 685 - 693. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Bayer, T. Muller, D. Myrtek, S. Sorichter, M. Ziegenhagen, J. Norgauer, G. Zissel, and M. Idzko Serotoninergic Receptors on Human Airway Epithelial Cells Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., January 1, 2007; 36(1): 85 - 93. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. J. Dunford, N. O'Donnell, J. P. Riley, K. N. Williams, L. Karlsson, and R. L. Thurmond The Histamine H4 Receptor Mediates Allergic Airway Inflammation by Regulating the Activation of CD4+ T Cells. J. Immunol., June 1, 2006; 176(11): 7062 - 7070. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Hawrylowicz Regulatory T cells and IL-10 in allergic inflammation J. Exp. Med., December 5, 2005; 202(11): 1459 - 1463. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Triggiani, F. Granata, B. Balestrieri, A. Petraroli, G. Scalia, L. Del Vecchio, and G. Marone Secretory Phospholipases A2 Activate Selective Functions in Human Eosinophils J. Immunol., March 15, 2003; 170(6): 3279 - 3288. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C.-D. Huang, O. Tliba, R. A. Panettieri Jr., and Y. Amrani Bradykinin Induces Interleukin-6 Production in Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells: Modulation by Th2 Cytokines and Dexamethasone Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., March 1, 2003; 28(3): 330 - 338. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Lehtimaki, H. Kankaanranta, S. Saarelainen, V. Turjanmaa, and E. Moilanen Increased alveolar nitric oxide concentration in asthmatic patients with nocturnal symptoms Eur. Respir. J., October 1, 2002; 20(4): 841 - 845. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K G Tantisira and S T Weiss Complex interactions in complex traits: obesity and asthma Thorax, September 1, 2001; 56(90002): ii64 - 74. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Triggiani, M. Gentile, A. Secondo, F. Granata, A. Oriente, M. Taglialatela, L. Annunziato, and G. Marone Histamine Induces Exocytosis and IL-6 Production from Human Lung Macrophages Through Interaction with H1 Receptors J. Immunol., March 15, 2001; 166(6): 4083 - 4091. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Rodel, M. Woytas, A. Groh, K.-H. Schmidt, M. Hartmann, M. Lehmann, and E. Straube Production of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Interleukin 6 by Human Smooth Muscle Cells following Infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae Infect. Immun., June 1, 2000; 68(6): 3635 - 3641. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Yoshida, M. Maruyama, T. Fujita, N. Arai, R. Hayashi, J. Araya, S. Matsui, N. Yamashita, E. Sugiyama, and M. Kobayashi Reactive oxygen intermediates stimulate interleukin-6 production in human bronchial epithelial cells Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, June 1, 1999; 276(6): L900 - L908. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Lacy, F. Levi-Schaffer, S. Mahmudi-Azer, B. Bablitz, S. C. Hagen, J. Velazquez, A. B. Kay, and R. Moqbel Intracellular Localization of Interleukin-6 in Eosinophils From Atopic Asthmatics and Effects of Interferon gamma   Blood, April 1, 1998; 91(7): 2508 - 2516. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. YOKOYAMA, N. KOHNO, K. SAKAI, K.-I. KONDO, Y. HIRASAWA, and K. HIWADA Circulating Levels of Soluble Interleukin-6 Receptor in Patients with Bronchial Asthma Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., November 1, 1997; 156(5): 1688 - 1691. [Abstract] [Full Text]