title: Defective natural killer and phagocytic activities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are restored by glycophosphopeptical (inmunoferón).
abstract: We have investigated both modifications in natural (innate) immunity caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the effects of a glycophosphopeptical immunomodulator (Inmunoferón) treatment on COPD-associated immunoalterations. In a double-blinded clinical trial, 60 patients with COPD received glycophosphopeptical or placebo during 90 consecutive days at oral doses of 3 g/d. Fifty-six sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects were included as a reference group for immunologic parameters. Peripheral blood natural killer (PBNK) cell cytotoxic activity and phagocytic activity of peripheral monocytes/macrophages (Mo/Ma) and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells were assessed at baseline and then again at the end of treatments. We found both PBNK activity and phagocytic activity to be significantly decreased in patients with COPD compared with levels in healthy volunteers. The treatment with glycophosphopeptical provoked significant stimulatory effects on PBNK cytotoxic activity. This stimulation was not mediated by an increase in CD3(-)CD56(+) NK cells. Further, glycophosphopeptical significantly increased the percentage of monocytes and PMNs that phagocytize Escherichia coli in vitro, as well as increased phagocytic indices. We conclude that peripheral blood cells of patients with COPD show clear defects in natural immunity that are partially rescued by glycophosphopeptical.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine CSIC Associated Unit, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monserrat
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Callol
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de LUCAS
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Sala
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Sala
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Villarrubia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Mon
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D006020:Glycopeptides; C038773:Immunoferon