RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Alveolar macrophages and CC chemokines are increased in children with cystic fibrosis
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 655
OP 661
DO 10.1183/09031936.00178508
VO 34
IS 3
A1 S. Brennan
A1 P. D. Sly
A1 C. L. Gangell
A1 N. Sturges
A1 K. Winfield
A1 M. Wikstrom
A1 S. Gard
A1 J. W. Upham
A1 on behalf of AREST CF
YR 2009
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/34/3/655.abstract
AB Airway inflammation is an important component of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. We sought to determine whether alveolar macrophages were involved in early CF lung disease. Children with CF (median age 3.1 yrs) participated in a surveillance programme that included annual bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Control samples were obtained from non-CF children (median age 3.1 yrs; n = 24) investigated for persistent respiratory symptoms. Pulmonary infection was detected in 31% (16 out of 51) and 38% (nine out of 24) of children from the CF and non-CF groups, respectively. Alveolar macrophages in BAL were increased in CF compared with non-CF in the absence of infection (223×103 versus 85×103 cells·mL−1; p = 0.001) and were associated with elevations in the CC chemokines (macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-3α (chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL)20; 355.8 versus 46.0 pg·mL−1; p<0.001), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (CCL2; 263.5 versus 25.3 pg·mL−1; p<0.001), MIP-1α (CCL3; 38.2 versus 4.9 pg·mL−1; p<0.001) and MIP-1β (CCL4; 326.6 versus 27.5 pg·mL−1; p<0.001)). Total cell counts and neutrophil numbers increased in the presence of infection; however, there was no additional effect of CF. Alveolar macrophages and CC chemokines are elevated in the lungs in young children with CF even in the absence of pulmonary infection. Longitudinal studies are required to determine the clinical relevance of these findings.