title: Increased of exhaled breath condensate neutrophil chemotaxis in acute exacerbation of COPD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neutrophils have been involved in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Underlying mechanisms of neutrophil accumulation in the airways of stable and exacerbated COPD patients are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to assess exhaled breath condensate (EBC) neutrophil chemotactic activity, the level of two chemoattractants for neutrophils (GRO-α and LTB4) during the course of an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  50 ex smoking COPD patients (33 with acute exacerbation and 17 in stable disease) and 20 matched ex smoking healthy controls were compared. EBC was collected by using a commercially available condenser (EcoScreen®). EBC neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) was assessed by using Boyden microchambers. Chemotactic index (CI) was used to evaluate cell migration. LTB4 and GROα levels were measured by a specific enzyme immunoassay in EBC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stable COPD and outpatients with AECOPD, but not hospitalized with AECOPD, had raised EBC NCA compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 respectively). In outpatients with AECOPD EBC NCA significantly decreased 6 weeks after the exacerbation. Overall EBC NCA was weakly correlated with sputum neutrophil counts (r = 0.26, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EBC NCA rose during acute exacerbation of COPD in ambulatory patients and decreased at recovery. While LTB4 seems to play a role both in stable and in exacerbated phase of the disease, the role of GRO-α as a chemotactic factor during AECOPD is not clearly established and needs further investigation.
authors.forename: Jean Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Corhay
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moermans
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henket
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nguyen Dang
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Duysinx
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Louis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000502:physiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D045853:Exhalation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology