Patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) have genetic mutations in a component of the NADPH oxidase enzyme that is necessary for the generation of the superoxide anion. The profound defect in innate immunity is reflected by the patients susceptibility to catalase-positive bacteria and fungi. In addition, CGD patients display signs of persistent inflammation, which is not associated only with deficient superoxide anion production. The aim of this study was to elucidate the cytokine responses in CGD patients after TNF-α stimulation.

Heparinized blood samples were collected from 8 CGD patients and 10 healthy volunteers. Monocytes (1×10⁶ cell/well) isolated by the magnet cell isolation system were incubated with a constant amount of TNF-α (10 ng/mL) at 37℃ for 6 h. Incubated cells were harvested at 60-min intervals for IL-8 and IL-10 mRNA analysis, and the supernatant was collected at the same intervals to determine IL-8 and IL-10 expression. Monocytes from healthy volunteers were also incubated with antioxidants followed by TNF-α stimulation for IL-8 and IL-10 expression.

In CGD patients, a high expression of IL-8 together with a significantly higher IL-10 expression than in the healthy controls was seen after TNF-α stimulation. Moreover, normal monocytes treated with antioxidants exhibited increased IL-8 responses.

The absence of phagocyte-derived reactive oxidants in CGD might be associated with a dysregulated production of pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines. Additional research related to reactive oxidants is needed to clarify the role of cytokines in CGD patients.