title: Role of leukocytes in lung defenses.
abstract: Alveolar macrophages are the primary cells that protect the lung against inhaled or aspirated microbes. They kill microorganisms intracellularly by both oxidative and non-oxidative mechanisms. Alveolar macrophages secrete antimicrobial factors, including lysozyme, peptides, and transferrin, which are found in the bronchoalveolar lining fluid and may kill microbes extracellularly. Macrophage secretory products help initiate a controlled inflammatory response and a limited influx of granulocytes, which appears to be important for complete elimination of many bacterial pathogens from the lung.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Veterans Administration, Lexington, Ky.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Coonrod
mesh_terms: D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D009895:Opsonin Proteins; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009895:Opsonin Proteins