The aim of the study was to analyze respiratory viruses and cytokines in induced sputum samples, serum Mycoplasma pneumoniae antigens and antiMycoplasma and antiChlamydia antibodies in stable patients with bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) phenotype. Methods. RNAs of rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, metapneumovirus, types 1, 2, 3, and 4 influenza viruses, coronaviruses ОС43, Е229, NL63, and HKUI; DNA of group B, C and E adenoviruses and bocavirus were detected by realtime PCR with hybridization and fluorescent detection. Serum IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against C. pneumoniae were detected with indirect microimmunofluorescence assay. Mycoplasma pneumoniae antigens were detected with aggregate hemagglutination method. Results . In patients with asthma plus COPD phenotype, three respiratory viruses were detected in sputum, such as rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus and adenovirus; antigens of and / or antibodies against M. pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae were also detected in blood sera. The respiratory infections were associated with imbalanced ratio of interferon types I, II, III and MxA antiviral protein. In patients with no expression of IFNβ gene, IFNα RNA was detected in 58.3% of samples and IFNλ RNA was detected in 42.9 % of samples. Decreased functional activities of IFNα and IFNγ were found.
Nineteen patients aged 18–65 years with moderate and severe exacerbations of atopic asthma were examined for respiratory viruses, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydophila pneumoniae. Interferon system, IL-4 and γ-IFN serum levels were also investigated. Viral infections (RS-virus, adenovirus, influenza types A (H1N1, H3N2) and B viruses, parainfluenza types 1 and 3 viruses) were diagnosed serologically or using PCR with direct detection of viral nucleic acids in 73.6 % of the patients. Diagnostic level of Mycoplasma pneumoniae antigen was found in 78.9 % of the patients, anti-Chlamydophila pneumoniae antibodies were detected in 31.6 %. Leukocyte interferon-producing function was decreased in all the patients.