Application of Inflammatory Markers in Induced Sputum in Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients with Positive Bronchodilation Tests

摘要

cqvip:Positive bronchodilation (BD) tests can be noticed in some stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.The characteristics of airway inflammation in this entity remain unclear.Our study aimed to identify the characteristics of airway inflammation in stable COPD patients with positive BD tests.The airway inflammation was assessed in 88 patients with stable COPD using the examination of induced sputum in the aftermath of lung function and BD tests.Cellular counts and the levels of molecular markers including eosinophil cationic protein (ECP),myeloperoxidase (MPO),interleukin-5 (IL-5),and IL-8 were assayed by Wright's stain,Immuno-CAP system,and ELISA,RT-PCR.Among the 88 patients with stable COPD,20 (22.7%) showed positive BD tests.The values of eosinophils (4.7%±3.4%) and ECP (90.1±41.6 ng/mL) in induced sputum in stable COPD patients with positive BD tests were markedly elevated as compared with those in stable COPD patients with negative BD tests or in healthy controls (all P0.05).Moreover,the values of neutrophils (61.8%±15.1%),MPO (574.0±111.8 ng/mL),and IL-8 (32.6±13.4 ng/mL) in induced sputum in stable COPD patients with positive BD tests were significantly higher than those in asthmatics or normal controls (all P0.05).The stable COPD patients with positive BD tests may present not only eosinophilic airway inflammation but also neutrophilic airway inflammation.