Induced sputum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) contains adhesion-promoting, therapy-sensitive factors.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate whether sputum of COPD patients before and after treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (IHC) or N-acetylcysteine (NAC) exerts any effect on the adhesion of isolated polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) to cultured endothelial cells.


METHODS
A human endothelial cell line was grown to confluence before use in adhesion experiments. PMNs were obtained from normal, non-smoking volunteers and preincubated (30 min, 37 degrees C) with diluted sputum sol obtained from COPD patients before the cells were put on the endothelial cells.


RESULTS
Basal adhesion of unstimulated PMNs after 30 min at 37 degrees C in 5% CO2 was 15.9+/-1.1% (mean +/- SEM, n = 9). A significant enhancement of the adhesion to 33.0+/-1.4% (n = 11, P<0.0001) was observed with sputum obtained from COPD patients before treatment with IHC, and 34.6+/-1.5% (n = 10, P<0.0001) before treatment with NAC. Administration of IHC for 8 weeks resulted in an adhesion of 27.7+/-2.4%, which is an inhibition of 31% (n = 11, P<0.05). However, treatment for 8 weeks with NAC showed no change in the adhesion of stimulated PMNs. Long-term treatment with NAC showed a gradual decrease of adhesion (n = 9, P<0.05), whereas long-term treatment with IHC lead to an increase in adhesion (n = 10, P<0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that factors locally produced in the airways of COPD patients may promote adhesion of neutrophils to endothelium. They further suggest that glucocorticoids may only have a short-term transient effect on adhesion, whereas NAC showed effects on the adhesion after administration for longer periods.
van Overveld
F J
FJ
Department of Respiratory Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen-Wilrijk, Belgium. overveld@uia.ua.ac.be
Vermeire
P A
PA
De Backer
W A
WA
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology; D013183:Sputum / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000111:Acetylcysteine