[Characteristics of airway inflammatory cells and mediators in eosinophilic bronchitis patients].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the features of airway inflammation in patients with eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) by analyzing the inflammatory cells and mediators in induced sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).


METHODS
Sputum induced by hypertonic saline aerosol inhalation was collected in 43 patients with EB (EB group), 20 patients with cough variant asthma (CVA, CVA group), 16 patients with bronchial asthma (asthma group) and 21 healthy controls (healthy group). Bronchoalveolar lavage was also performed in 11 patients with EB and 10 patients with CVA. Differential cell count was carried out in sputum and BALF. Levels of eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP), leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)) and histamine in sputum and BALF were measured.


RESULTS
The percentage of sputum eosinophils (EOS) showed significant difference among the four groups; healthy group 0.0020 +/- 0.0050, EB group 0.1130 +/- 0.1470, CVA group 0.1900 +/- 0.1800, asthma group 0.3860 +/- 0.2670 (P < 0.01). The difference between asthma group and CVA group, and the difference between CVA group and EB group were significant (P < 0.05). The percentage of EOS in BALF was (0.011 +/- 0.016) in EB group, (0.053 +/- 0.040) in CVA group, the difference being significant (P < 0.05). The concentration of sputum ECP was (0.62 +/- 0.66) mg/L in EB group, (1.27 +/- 1.74) mg/L in CVA group, (0.07 +/- 0.10) mg/L in healthy group, the difference among the three groups being significant (P < 0.01). The difference of LTC(4) level was also significant when CVA group (0.65 +/- 0.62) microg/L was compared with EB group (0.39 +/- 0.61) microg/L (P < 0.05) and healthy group (0.15 +/- 0.11) microg/L (P < 0.01). The difference of histamine level in the supernatant of BALF was significant between CVA group (3.4 +/- 1.4) microg/L and EB group (1.6 +/- 1.5) microg/L (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
EOS infiltration is mainly localized to the central airway in EB, with lower airway levels of LTC(4) and histamine as compared to CVA. These inflammatory features may partly explain the absence of non-specific airway hyperresponsiveness in patients with EB.
Luo
Wei
W
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Lai
Ke-fang
KF
Chen
Ru-chong
RC
Liu
Chun-li
CL
Zeng
Yun-xiang
YX
Zhong
Shu-qing
SQ
Li
De-rong
DR
Wu
Hua
H
He
Meng-zhang
MZ
Zhong
Nan-shan
NS
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein