Alveolar macrophages from subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are deficient in their ability to phagocytose apoptotic airway epithelial cells

• Published in: Immunology and cell biology Vol. 81; no. 4; pp. 289 - 296
• Main Authors: Hodge, Sandra, Hodge, Greg, Scicchitano, Raffaele, Reynolds, Paul N, Holmes, Mark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Nature Publishing Group 01.08.2003; Blackwell Science Ltd
• Subjects: Aged; alveolar macrophage; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Apoptosis; bronchial epithelial cell; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - cytology; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - immunology; Cell Line, Transformed; Cell Survival; Epithelial Cells - cytology; Epithelial Cells - immunology; Epithelial Cells - physiology; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Macrophages, Alveolar - immunology; Phagocytosis; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - etiology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - immunology; Respiratory Mucosa - cytology; Respiratory Mucosa - immunology

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a highly prevalent, complex disease, usually caused by cigarette smoke. It causes serious morbidity and mortality and costs the global community billions of dollars per year. While chronic inflammation, extracellular matrix destruction and increased airway ep...