High Pulmonary Levels of IL-6 and IL-1ß in Children with Chronic Suppurative Lung Disease Are Associated with Low Systemic IFN-? Production in Response to Non-Typeable Haemophilus influenzae

Pizzutto, Susan J.; Upham, John W.; Yerkovich, Stephanie T.; Chang, Anne B.

The cross-sectional design of the study meant we were unable to determine how resolution of airway inflammation affects the systemic NTHi-specific IFN-γ response. Also, minimal numbers of lymphocytes in our BAL samples precluded our ability to study airway cells directly. However our data shows a strong association between local inflammation and the systemic adaptive immune response to NTHi in children susceptible to lower respiratory infections. Future studies to identify the mechanisms driving this relationship between the adaptive IFN-γ response and airway inflammation are required to better inform effective, long-term prevention strategies for children at risk of CSLD. Understanding the nature of this association will help to determine if improving NTHi immunity would be best achieved by directly boosting the adaptive IFN-γ response through vaccination or immunotherapy strategies or if improved adaptive responses may be better realised by targeting IL-1β and IL-6 pathways in the lungs.