Increased bronchoalveolar granulocytes and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor during exacerbations of chronic bronchitis

Although inflammatory changes are found throughout the airways of patients with chronic bronchitis, the mechanisms of the pathogenesis of chronic bronchitis are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate airways inflammation in patients with and without an exacerbation of bronchitis. Thirteen chronic bronchitic patients and nine normal subjects were studied. Eight of the patients were studied under baseline conditions (B), and five during an exacerbation of bronchitis (E). Bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) with cytological analysis were performed, and the levels of granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were determined in sera and in BAL supernatants by a solid phase enzyme immunoassay. Compared with patients under baseline conditions, chronic bronchitic patients with an exacerbation had increased numbers of BAL neutrophils (10+/-3 and 83+/-18x10(3) cells x mL(-1), respectively; p<0.0001) and of BAL eosinophils (1.9+/-0.5 and 6.7/-1.9x10(3) cells x mL(-1), respectively; p=0.014). Patients with chronic bronchitis, as a whole, had significantly increased levels of BAL GM-CSF compared to control subjects (36+/-5 and 19+/-4 pg x mL(-1), respectively; p=0.035), and similar levels of serum GM-CSF. Serum levels of GM-CSF were markedly increased in chronic bronchitic patients with an exacerbation, as compared with patients under baseline conditions (1.4+/-0.4 and 13+/-1 pg x mL(-1), respectively; p <0.0001). BAL levels of GM-CSF were also increased in chronic bronchitic patients with an exacerbation (25+/-5 and 54+/-8 pg x mL(-1), respectively; p=0.009). During exacerbations of chronic bronchitis there are changes in the cell populations in bronchoalveolar lavage of patients consistent with a recruitment of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the airway lumen. The increased levels of granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor might suggest a role for this cytokine in the inflammatory processes of chronic bronchitis.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. J. Barnes The Cytokine Network in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., December 1, 2009; 41(6): 631 - 638. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J-Q. He, K. Shumansky, J. E. Connett, N. R. Anthonisen, P. D. Pare, and A. J. Sandford Association of genetic variations in the CSF2 and CSF3 genes with lung function in smoking-induced COPD Eur. Respir. J., July 1, 2008; 32(1): 25 - 34. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. F. Chung and I. M. Adcock Multifaceted mechanisms in COPD: inflammation, immunity, and tissue repair and destruction Eur. Respir. J., June 1, 2008; 31(6): 1334 - 1356. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Anzueto, S. Sethi, and F. J. Martinez Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Proceedings of the ATS, October 1, 2007; 4(7): 554 - 564. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. C. Newcomb, U. S. Sajjan, D. R. Nagarkar, A. M. Goldsmith, J. K. Bentley, and M. B. Hershenson Cooperative effects of rhinovirus and TNF-{alpha} on airway epithelial cell chemokine expression Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, October 1, 2007; 293(4): L1021 - L1028. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E.-M. Krinner, J. Hepp, P. Hoffmann, S. Bruckmaier, L. Petersen, S. Petsch, L. Parr, I. Schuster, S. Mangold, G. Lorenczewski, et al. A highly stable polyethylene glycol-conjugated human single-chain antibody neutralizing granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor at low nanomolar concentration Protein Eng. Des. Sel., October 1, 2006; 19(10): 461 - 470. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Slevogt, B. Schmeck, C. Jonatat, J. Zahlten, W. Beermann, V. van Laak, B. Opitz, S. Dietel, P. D. N'Guessan, S. Hippenstiel, et al. Moraxella catarrhalis induces inflammatory response of bronchial epithelial cells via MAPK and NF-{kappa}B activation and histone deacetylase activity reduction Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, May 1, 2006; 290(5): L818 - L826. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E Sapey and R A Stockley COPD exacerbations {middle dot} 2: Aetiology. Thorax, March 1, 2006; 61(3): 250 - 258. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Mallia and S. L. Johnston Mechanisms and Experimental Models of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations Proceedings of the ATS, November 1, 2005; 2(4): 361 - 366. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Farkas, M.-C. Hahn, M. Schmoczer, N. Jentsch, K. Kratzel, M. Pfeifer, and C. Schulz Expression of CXC Chemokine Receptors 1 and 2 in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Chest, November 1, 2005; 128(5): 3724 - 3734. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Solic, J. Wilson, S. J. Wilson, and J. K. Shute Endothelial Activation and Increased Heparan Sulfate Expression in Cystic Fibrosis Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 1, 2005; 172(7): 892 - 898. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. L. Johnston Overview of Virus-induced Airway Disease Proceedings of the ATS, August 1, 2005; 2(2): 150 - 156. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Linden, M. Laan, and G. P. Anderson Neutrophils, interleukin-17A and lung disease Eur. Respir. J., January 1, 2005; 25(1): 159 - 172. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. J. Barnes Mediators of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Pharmacol. Rev., December 1, 2004; 56(4): 515 - 548. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Panzner, J.-J. Lafitte, A. Tsicopoulos, Q. Hamid, and M. K. Tulic Marked Up-regulation of T Lymphocytes and Expression of Interleukin-9 in Bronchial Biopsies From Patients With Chronic Bronchitis With Obstruction Chest, November 1, 2003; 124(5): 1909 - 1915. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Qiu, J. Zhu, V. Bandi, R. L. Atmar, K. Hattotuwa, K. K. Guntupalli, and P. K. Jeffery Biopsy Neutrophilia, Neutrophil Chemokine and Receptor Gene Expression in Severe Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 15, 2003; 168(8): 968 - 975. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M Profita, G Chiappara, F Mirabella, R Di Giorgi, L Chimenti, G Costanzo, L Riccobono, V Bellia, J Bousquet, and A M Vignola Effect of cilomilast (Ariflo) on TNF-{alpha}, IL-8, and GM-CSF release by airway cells of patients with COPD Thorax, July 1, 2003; 58(7): 573 - 579. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Laan, O. Prause, M. Miyamoto, M. Sjostrand, A.M. Hytonen, T. Kaneko, J. Lotvall, and A. Linden A role of GM-CSF in the accumulation of neutrophils in the airways caused by IL-17 and TNF-{alpha} Eur. Respir. J., March 1, 2003; 21(3): 387 - 393. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A J White, S Gompertz, and R A Stockley Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease * 6: The aetiology of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Thorax, January 1, 2003; 58(1): 73 - 80. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. V. Culpitt, D. F. Rogers, P. Shah, C. De Matos, R. E. K. Russell, L. E. Donnelly, and P. J. Barnes Impaired Inhibition by Dexamethasone of Cytokine Release by Alveolar Macrophages from Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., January 1, 2003; 167(1): 24 - 31. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Gompertz, C. O'Brien, D.L. Bayley, S.L. Hill, and R.A. Stockley Changes in bronchial inflammation during acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis Eur. Respir. J., June 1, 2001; 17(6): 1112 - 1119. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Hill, S. Gompertz, and R. Stockley Factors influencing airway inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Thorax, November 1, 2000; 55(11): 970 - 977. [Full Text]

				T. F. Murphy, S. Sethi, and M. S. Niederman The Role of Bacteria in Exacerbations of COPD : A Constructive View Chest, July 1, 2000; 118(1): 204 - 209. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Balbi, M. Majori, S. Bertacco, G. Convertino, A. Cuomo, C. F. Donner, and A. Pesci Inhaled Corticosteroids in Stable COPD Patients : Do They Have Effects on Cells and Molecular Mediators of Airway Inflammation? Chest, June 1, 2000; 117(6): 1633 - 1637. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Nagata, J. B. Sedgwick, H. Kita, and W. W. Busse Granulocyte Macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor Augments ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 Activation of Eosinophil Function Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., July 1, 1998; 19(1): 158 - 166. [Abstract] [Full Text]