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Updated: Feb 13, 2026
13:28
Methodology for Sputum Induction and Laboratory Processing
Published on: December 17, 2017
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Complex association patterns for inflammatory mediators in induced sputum from subjects with asthma
A T Hastie1, C Steele2, C W Dunaway2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Summary
Severe asthma involves increased sputum inflammatory proteins, particularly linked to neutrophils. Complex interactions suggest overlapping immune pathways, highlighting the need to consider multiple mediators for effective asthma therapy.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Airway inflammation in asthma is characterized by distinct immune profiles, including eosinophilic (Th2, Th9) and neutrophilic (Th1, Th17) pathways.
- The release of inflammatory mediators in the bronchial lumen correlates with the type and severity of asthma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in sputum cytokines and chemokines between severe and mild asthma.
- To determine if factor analysis of these mediators reveals specific inflammatory pathways in asthma.
Main Methods:
- Induced sputum samples from 158 asthma patients across a severity spectrum were analyzed for 75 proteins using Milliplex kits.
- Cytokine and chemokine concentrations were assessed for differences based on asthma severity, association with leukocyte counts, and via factor analysis.
Main Results:
- Severe asthma showed increased levels of 9 proteins and decreased levels of 4 proteins compared to mild asthma.
- Twenty-six mediators were significantly associated with specific leukocyte types, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, macrophages, eosinophils, and airway epithelial cells.
- Factor analysis identified 10 distinct factors comprising mixed inflammatory and anti-inflammatory proteins, indicating complex immune interactions.
Conclusions:
- Sputum inflammatory proteins, especially those associated with neutrophils, are elevated in severe asthma.
- Complex interactions and overlapping immune pathways characterize airway inflammation in asthma.
- Targeting single inflammatory mediators may oversimplify asthma complexity and hinder optimal therapeutic selection.
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