PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Agata Nowicka
AU  - Halina Batura-Gabryel
AU  - Mariusz Kaczmarek
AU  - Jan Sikora
AU  - Krzysztof Swierkocki
AU  - Anna Czyz
TI  - Is there any correlation between apoptosis of the cells from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
DP  - 2011 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - p3598
VI  - 38
IP  - Suppl 55
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3598.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3598.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38
AB  - Background: It has been already well known that neutrophilic inflammation, oxidative stress and protease/antiprotease imbalance play a significant role in the pathogenesis of COPD. In recent years some data were published, showing that also apoptosis may be one of the processes concerned in the pathogenesis of this disorder.Objectives: We presumed that apoptosis of the cells (granulocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages) from COPD patients' bronchoalveolar lavage fluid increases along with the decline of FEV1 (forced expiratory capacity in 1 second).Methods: 19 patients (16 men and 3 women), smokers or former smokers, diagnosed with COPD (stages 2-4) were enrolled into the study. The mean age was 64,95±7,83. In all subjects spirometry after the inhalation of beta-2-agonist was performed, to confirm the diagnosis of COPD according to GOLD criteria and to estimate FEV1. BALF during fiberoptic bronchoscopy was taken in all patients. We used annexin V to assess apoptosis of the cells concerned in BAL fluid. (BD Biosciences, Annexin V - FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit I)Results: The median FEV1 was 38,6%. Only the patients with advanced COPD were enrolled into the study (max FEV1 55,3%, min FEV1 15,3%). In the group of patients with FEV1 lower than 38,6% median for apoptosis was 4% (0-59%), in the group with FEV1 higher than 38,6% median for apoptosis was 5% (3-16%). No correlation between FEV1 and apoptosis of the cells concerned in COPD patients BALF was found (p= 0,74).Conclusions: Our data suggest that there is no correlation between apoptosis and the progression of COPD.