Abstract
The number of patients with bronchial asthma (BA), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and their combination (BA+GERD) has been growing. These diseases are associated with disturbed pulmonary immunity. We hypothesized that the disturbed pulmonary immunity in BA, GERD and BA+GERD is determined by a change in alveolar macrophage phenotype. The aim of study was to compare changes in the pulmonary immune response and alveolar macrophage phenotype in patients.
The pulmonary immune status was evaluated by levels of proinflammatory M1, antiinflammatory M2 and bivalent M1/M2 cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The macrophage phenotype was determined by concentrations of the same cytokines in the culture medium and by CD markers. Concentrations of cytokines and CDs were measured by flow cytofluorometry.
In BA, the phenotype of pulmonary immune response was shifted towards M2, in GERD – towards M1, and in BA+GERD – towards M2. These changes were consistent with changes in the macrophage phenotype. Each disease had a specific pattern of changes in cytokines
and the population of alveolar macrophages was heterogeneous.
Theobtaineddataagreewiththestudy'shypothesisandsuggestthatthetherapyforinflammationinlungshouldbeadministeredwithconsiderationofspecificchangesinthecytokinepatternandphenotypicheterogeneityofmacrophages.
- © 2014 ERS