Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the chemokine expression in children with a non-productive cough. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six children with a non-productive cough who visited Yeungnam University Hospital were evaluated for the mRNA expression of interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10(IP-10), macrophage cationic protein 1 and 3 (MCP-1, 3), interleukin (IL)-8, regulated upon activation in normal T cells expressed and secreted (RANTES), eotaxin and growth-related oncogene-alpha (Gro-alpha) using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The chemokines IP-10 and MCP-3 were expressed in all samples. The chemokine RANTES was expressed in five cases, and IL-8 was expressed in three among them. However, eotaxin, Gro-alpha and MCP-1 were not expressed at all. The expression of chemokine MCP-3, RANTES and IL-8 were suppressed after the resolution of coughing in just one available case. CONCLUSION: The chemokines MCP-3, RANTES and IL-8 may contribute to airway inflammation in children with a non-productive cough, whereas IP-10 is of secondary importance in this condition.

• Keywords: Chemokine expression;Non-productive cough;Childhood;