title: Effect of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on neutrophil function in idiopathic bronchiectasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neutrophils are consistently found in inflamed and infected airways in idiopathic bronchiectasis, but relatively little is known about the function of blood neutrophils in this condition. We hypothesized that peripheral blood neutrophil (PBN) phagocytosis and superoxide generation are impaired in bronchiectasis, and that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is capable of improving neutrophil function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neutrophils were isolated from the peripheral blood of patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis who were free of exacerbation, and from healthy controls of similar age (n = 21 in both groups). Ingestion of serum-opsonized zymosan by neutrophils was used to quantify phagocytic capacity. Superoxide generation in neutrophils was measured in response to addition of platelet activating factor and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. Experiments were performed in the presence or absence of GM-CSF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were observed in either phagocytic capacity (P = 0.99) or superoxide generation (P = 0.81) when comparing patients and controls. However, a significant increase in phagocytic capacity above baseline levels in both patients (P < 0.005) and controls (P < 0.005) was induced by GM-CSF. Similarly, the superoxide generation in patients (P < 0.005) and controls (P = 0.001) was significantly increased by GM-CSF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PBN function was preserved in idiopathic bronchiectasis. Enhancement of neutrophil phagocytosis and superoxide generation by GM-CSF requires further study.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Marie-Hélène
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ruchaud-Sparagano
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gertig
authors.forename: Katy L M
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hester
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Corris
authors.forename: A John
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Soyza
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D015054:Zymosan / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D013481:Superoxides; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D015054:Zymosan
keywords: bronchiectasis; granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor; neutrophil; phagocytosis; superoxide