The absolute number of eosinophils, and the periostin, IL-13, and TGF-β1 levels in the BALF were significantly higher in patients with EP than in patients with IPF and sarcoidosis.
The analysis of the subgroups showed increased VEGF and FGF-2, and reduced TGF-β1 concentration in stages I + II patients with relevantly reduced lung diffusing capacity or increased sarcoidosis activity compared to patients with normal lung diffusing capacity or inactive sarcoidosis.
These studies suggest that the -509C and codon 10T, implicated in lower levels of TGF-beta1 protein production, are shared susceptibility factors associated with more severe granulomatous disease in sarcoidosis and CBD.
Therefore, we were interested in whether the genotype frequencies for a PM at position -1082 of the IL-10 or in codon 25 of the TGF-beta 1 gene differ in sarcoidosis or its distinct phenotypes in comparison with healthy individuals.