title: Assessment of phagocytic activity of neutrophils in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the phagocytic activity of neutrophils in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  There is a paucity of data in relation to phagocytic function in COPD. By this multidisciplinary study, a better understanding about the etiology of lung destruction among COPD patients is being sought.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted among 28 subjects with COPD and 25 controls in a private tertiary hospital in Chennai after obtaining Institutional Ethical Clearance. Known cases of COPD as proven by clinical findings and spirometry were included in the study, and subjects with any other source of infection, recent surgery, or chronic granulomatous disease were excluded. The study subjects were divided into three groups based on the severity of COPD as determined by spirometry, and healthy volunteers were taken as Group 4. After obtaining informed consent, validated respiratory health questionnaire was administered. The phagocytic function was assessed by Candida phagocytic test and Nitroblue Tetrazolium (NBT) Reduction Test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly impaired phagocytic function as indicated by lower phagocytic, lytic indices and decreased NBT reduction of neutrophils was seen in COPD subjects compared to normal healthy controls (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that there is phagocytic dysfunction in COPD subjects when compared with normal subjects. This could be due to underlying inflammation in human airway. Understanding the role of neutrophils may lead to improved understanding of the pathogenesis of COPD, which in turn may pave way for implementing modified therapeutic intervention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Melmaruvathur Adiparasakthi Institute of Medical Sciences, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Lalitha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shanmugam
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: S Sheela
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ravinder
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Padmavathi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest and TB, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rajagopalan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Anupma Jyoti
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kindo
keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; neutrophils; phagocytosis