Monocyte chemotactic and activating factor/monocyte chemoattractant protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with atopic asthma and chronic bronchitis. Relationship to lung function tests, bronchial hyper-responsiveness and cytology of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

Monocyte chemotactic and activating factor/monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCAF/MCP1) is a member of beta (C-C) subfamily of chemokines. The biological roles played by MCAF/MCP1 in a number of inflammatory and non-inflammatory disease states is not well known. Several studies have confirmed that inflammation is present in the airways of subjects with atopic asthma (AA) and in chronic bronchitis (CHB). The aim of the current study was to examine associations among MCAF/MCP1 and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells and disease severity as measured by airway caliber and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with AA and CHB. Thirty-two patients with AA, 32 patients with CHB and 14 patients of a control group took part in this study. ELISA test was used to assess MCAF/MCP1 in BALF. The levels of MCAF/MCP1 (mean +/- S.E.M.) were 107 +/- 15.8 pg/ml in patients with AA, 393.4 +/- 105.9 pg/ml in CHB and 36.4 +/- 10.9 pg/ml in the control group (P < 0.05). Significant correlations with clinical parameters were found in both group of patients with disease. In conclusion, MCAF/MCP1 possesses proinflammatory properties and their biological effect can in part account for the persistance of inflammation in the bronchial mucosa of AA and CHB.