[Alveolar macrophage and airway inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of alveolar macrophage(AM) on airway inflammation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).


METHODS
Broncho alveolar fluid(BALF) and bronchial mucosa biopsies were performed as usual. The levels of macrophage inflammatory-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), gelatinase B (MMP-9), interleukin(IL)-8 in BALF and the culture supernatants of AMs were measured with ELISA. The levels of endothelin (ET) were measured with radioimmunoassay method. The AMs expressing lymphocytic functional associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) in BALF, the AMs in mucosa and the thickness of mucosa were measured with immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry technique.


RESULTS
The levels of MIP-1 alpha, MMP-9, IL-8 and ET in the culture supernatants of AMs in patients with COPD were (1 446.9 +/- 126.7) microg/L, (16.98 +/- 5.15) microg /L, (43.98 +/- 5.54) ng/L, (168.10 +/- 21.22) microg/L respectively; while those were (1 123.5 +/- 90.6) microg/L, (5.24 +/- 0.93) microg/L, (25.99 +/- 6.05) ng/L, (124.68 +/- 9.96) microg/L in a control group. The number of macrophages in mucosa in patients with COPD was (1.71 +/- 0.48) cells/Hp, while that was (0.59 +/- 0.18) cells/Hp in the control group (0.63 +/- 0.25) x 10(4). Statistical significance was found between the two groups. The number of AMs and polymorphonuclear leucocyte in BALF were inversely correlated with forced expiratory volume in one second as percentage of predicted value(FEV(1)% Pre) (r = -0.511, P < 0.01; r = -0.562, P < 0.01). The levels of MMP-9 and ET in the culture supernatants of AMs were inversely correlated with FEV(1)% Pre(r = -0.678, P < 0.01; r = -0.871, P < 0.01). Both the level of MIP-1 alpha and the positive number of AM expressing LFA-1 in BALF were positively correlated with the number of AMs in BALF(r = 0.572, P < 0.01; r = 0.625, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
AM may be involved in the process of airway inflammation and subsequent airway obstruction.
Chen
P
P
Respiratory Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
Cai
S
S
Zhu
Y
Y
Peng
H
H
Luo
H
H
Liu
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology