Abstract
The aim: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent inflammatory reaction with a dominance of neutrophil involvement. It is established, that during a healing of acute inflammation, a switching of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism from leukotriene (Lt) to lipoxin (LX) production occurs. Therefore we hypothesized that in COPD patients the lipoxin production could be insufficient. Hence we measured the content of LXA4 and LtB4 in induced sputum supernatant (IS) in COPD patients and healthy subjects.
Materials and methods: 17 COPD patients and 7 healthy persons were studied. The age and gender ratios were similar in both groups. Sputum induction was performed according to the ERS protocol. LXA4 and LtB4 content in sputum supernatant was assessed by ELISA.
Results: COPD patients had decreased concentration of LXA4 in induced sputum compared to healthy persons (0,514 ng/ml and 1,310 ng/ml, respectively, p=0,00784).
LtB4 content in induced sputum did not significantly differ between COPD group and healthy persons group (3,551 ng/ml and 3,754 ng/ml, respectively). The ratio LtB4/LXA4 in COPD patients was three times higher compared to healthy persons (ie. 9,816 ng/ml and 3,425 ng/ml; p=0.00982).
Conclusions: We concluded that the chronic obstructive lung disease is characterized by suppressed production of lipoxins. This insufficiency may be responsible for a persistence of neutrophilic inflammation in airways.
- © 2011 ERS
