TY - JOUR T1 - Bronchial wall inflammatory cells and signs of remodeling in COPD and asthma JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2019.PA4089 VL - 54 IS - suppl 63 SP - PA4089 AU - Bahareh Jouleh AU - Rune Nielsen AU - Per Bakke AU - Randi Sandvik AU - Tharmini Kalananthan AU - Jonathan A. Ward AU - Susan J. Wilson AU - Tomas M. L. Eagan Y1 - 2019/09/28 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/54/suppl_63/PA4089.abstract N2 - Background: The inflammatory cell components and remodeling in the larger airways in COPD is underexplored.Methods: 35 Healthy controls, 46 COPD and 8 asthma patients underwent bronchoscopic biopsy of the lower right lobe airways as part of the Bergen MicroCOPD study. 3 biopsies per subject were immediately fixed and embedded in glycolmethacrylate for immunohistochemistry staining for muscle tissue fraction (aSMA) and cell counts/mm2 for macrophages (CD68), eosinophils (EG2), T-lymphocytes (CD3), and pixel count/mm2 for neutrophils (NOE). Immunohistochemistry counts were performed blinded to diagnosis. Examined co-variables were sex, age, smoking, and body composition, adjustment made by linear regression on the markers as outcome variables; with log-transformed values.Results: Muscle tissue fraction was higher in COPD (7.7%) versus controls (6.2%) and especially higher in asthma patients (11.6%, p=0.03). Macrophages were more frequent in COPD versus controls and asthma (69.1%. vs 50.2 & 27.6%, p=0.02). In adjusted regression analyses, higher age and ex smoking was significantly associated with increased muscle tissue fraction, and increase in all cell counts. Current smoking was significantly associated with increased muscle tissue fraction and increased neutrophil counts. Asthma and COPD patients had significantly higher muscle fraction [GM ratio 3.68 (1.76-7.71) & 1.61 (1.01-2.58) respectively]. Asthma significantly increased neutrophil count [GM ratio 3.77 (1.19-11.93)], and COPD significantly more eosinophils [GM ratio 1.91 (1.01-3.59)].Conclusion: Significant changes were seen in indices of inflammation and remodeling in bronchial biopsies from COPD and asthma patients compared with controls.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2019; 54: Suppl. 63, PA4089.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only). ER -