Decreased interleukin-18 expression in BAL cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in adult cystic fibrosis patients.

Lymphocytes from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients secrete less interferon-γ (IFN-γ) upon stimulation compared to controls. Expression of interleukin (IL)-18 as an IFN-γ inducing factor and of IL-10 as an IL-18 inhibiting factor were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells from CF patients (n=5) and from normal control subjects (n=9) as well as in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients (n=12) and from control subjects (n=9) with RT-PCR. IL-18 and IL-10 serum protein levels were measured using ELISA.