Ryoji Tamura

Clinicopathological features of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Objective: Only limited information exists concerning the clinical and pathological features of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) in Japan and elsewhere. We present data on clinicopathological features of chronic HP obtained through a Japanese nationwide survey.

Effects of interferon-alfa and the herbal medicine Sho-saiko-to on cytokine production and lung fibroblast proliferation

Abstract Since interferon-alfa (IFN-α) and Sho-saiko-to (SST) are known to modulate immune responses, their immunological effects may be responsible for the induction of interstitial pneumonia. Additionally, fibroblasts play an important role in lung fibrosis. Therefore, the in vitro effects of IFN-α and/or SST on cytokine production of fibroblasts were examined. No difference in cytokine production was shown among natural IFN-α, IFN-α-2a, and IFN-α-2b. Fibroblasts from three control subjects and four patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) were used. Cells from the control and IPF groups produced interleukin-6 (IL-6) dose-dependently with either IFN-α or SST treatment. Combined administration of these agents produced greater IL-6 production. In all controls, interleukin-8 (IL-8) production by fibroblasts was increased with SST but suppressed with IFN-α. In contrast, in 2 of 4 IPF patients, IL-8 production was increased with IFN-α. More importantly, there was a greater production of IL-8 when stimulated with both IFN-α and SST in the IPF group. Proliferation of control and IPF fibroblasts was inhibited equally by each drug. These results suggest that fibroblast cytokine production, augmented by IFN-α and/or SST, may play a role in the development or exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia.