title: Thymostimulin administration modulates polymorph metabolic pathway in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: Several studies outline the imbalance of phagocyte functions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this regard, here, we have assessed either monocyte- and polymorphonuclear cell (PMN)-mediated chemotactic, phagocytic and killing capacities or PMN-triggered metabolic pathway in a group of COPD patients before and at different times after thymostimulin administration. Before therapy, an increase of O2-generation and a decrease of myeloperoxidase release were found in these individuals when compared to controls. Moreover, a reduction of either PMN-mediated chemotaxis and killing or monocyte chemotactic capacities was observed. By contrast, no differences were seen in terms of beta-glucuronidase release, monocyte-mediated killing and PMN or monocyte phagocytic function. During a one-year monitoring following immunotherapy, O2- production and myeloperoxidase activity fell within normal values, while phagocyte functional capacities were unaffected by such a treatment. Furthermore, COPD subjects exhibited a significant improvement of their clinical status as assessed during a one-year followup. All together, these findings suggest a potential role for thymostimulin in the treatment of COPD patients.
authors.affiliation: University of Bari Medical Faculty, Policlinico, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tortorella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ottolenghi
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jirillo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antonaci
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D013949:Thymus Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D013949:Thymus Extracts; C031407:thymostimulin; D013481:Superoxides; D009195:Peroxidase; D005966:Glucuronidase