epiglucan and Farmer-s-Lung

Farmers may be often exposed to beta-D-glucan in moldy hay, since straw for feed can be stored throughout the year.. 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.. 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.. 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.. 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.

Topics: Adult; Aged; beta-Glucans; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Case-Control Studies; Cytokines; Epithelial Cells; Farmer's Lung; Female; Humans; Interleukin-8; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Respiratory Mucosa; Transcription Factor RelA; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

A farmer and his son, who treated straw in a cowshed, were admitted to our hospital because of severe dyspnea during summer time. Their chest X-ray films revealed bilateral reticulonodular shadows in the middle to lower lung fields. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid analyses showed a high proportion of lymphocytes and an increased CD4/8 ratio. They were diagnosed with farmer's lung and treated with pulse therapy with methylprednisolone and tapering of steroid. Hypoxemia and interstitial shadow improved, though the farmer relapsed one day after getting home. Immune precipitation showed positive reactions against Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus and Nocardiopsis alba. Their beta D-glucan levels in BAL fluid were higher than those of healthy normal volunteers, whereas their beta D-glucan levels in serum were below the detection levels. Ventilation of the cowshed and wearing a mask should prevent recurrence of the disease.

Topics: Adult; Aged; beta-Glucans; Bronchoalveolar Lavage; Family Health; Farmer's Lung; Humans; Male; Methylprednisolone; Prednisolone; Pulse Therapy, Drug