Nasal and bronchial airway epithelial cell mediator release in children.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that airway epithelial cell (AEC) mediator release is similar in upper and lower airway AEC in children. METHODS: Nasal and bronchial AEC were collected by brushings from children scheduled for general anesthetic. AEC release of the following mediators was measured: interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF), regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metallo proteinase (MMP)-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1. RESULTS: AEC were cultured in 34 children, mean age 7.3 years. Release of IL-6, IL-8, and G-CSF was significantly higher in nasal compared with bronchial AEC but nasal and bronchial AEC release of other mediators was not significantly different. Treatment of AEC with IL-1 ß and tumor necrosis factor-α increased secretion of all mediators. Release of IL-6 and GSCF remained higher in nasal AEC compared with bronchial AEC following stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: In epidemiological studies, nasal AEC may be a useful surrogate for bronchial AEC for the study of RANTES, MCP-1, TIMP-1, and MMP-9 release in children but bronchial AEC will remain the gold standard.