Eur Respir J 2005; 25:640-646
Copyright ©ERS Journals Ltd 2005
Airway inflammation during stable and acutely exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
K. Fujimoto,
M. Yasuo,
K. Urushibata,
M. Hanaoka,
T. Koizumi and
K. Kubo
First Dept of Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
CORRESPONDENCE: K. Fujimoto, First Dept of Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan. Fax: 81 263363722. E-mail: keisaku@hsp.md.shinshu-u.ac.jp
Keywords: Acute exacerbation, airway inflammation, chemoattractant, eosinophils, neutrophils
Received: April 22, 2004
Accepted December 21, 2004
The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism of increased airway inflammation during an acute exacerbation.
A total of 68 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients in a stable phase were enrolled and followed-up for 23 yrs. Inflammatory cells were analysed, and interleukin (IL)-8, neutrophil elastase, eotaxin, tryptase and RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted) were measured in sputum, both in a stable phase and during acute exacerbation.
Out of 68 patients, 30 (unstable group) developed an acute exacerbation and expectorated adequate sputum during exacerbation. Thirty-two patients (stable group) did not develop any exacerbation for 23 yrs. The number of neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosinophils, and the levels of IL-8, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), eotaxin and tryptase in sputum obtained from patients in both groups during the stable phase were significantly higher than those from healthy nonsmokers. There were no significant differences in cell analysis and biomarkers between the two groups, but patients in the unstable group showed more severe airflow limitation. In the unstable group, total cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils, and IL-8, neutrophil elastase, ECP and RANTES levels were significantly increased during an exacerbation from values in a stable phase.
These findings suggest that exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may associate with additional increases in airway inflammation mediated by neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, interleukin-8 and RANTES.
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Copyright © 2005 by the European Respiratory Society.
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