Adhesion molecules in subjects with COPD and healthy non-smokers: a cross sectional parallel group study

• Published in: Respiratory research Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 47
• Main Authors: Blidberg, Kristin, Palmberg, Lena, James, Anna, Billing, Bo, Henriksson, Elisabeth, Lantz, Ann-Sofie, Larsson, Kjell, Dahlén, Barbro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central 01.05.2013; BioMed Central Ltd
• Subjects: Adhesion; Asthma; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell adhesion molecules; Cell Adhesion Molecules - immunology; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Confidence intervals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Endothelium; Environmental health; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Infections; Leukocytes; Ligands; Lung diseases, Obstructive; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neutrophil Activation - immunology; Neutrophils; Neutrophils - immunology; Physiological aspects; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - immunology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - pathology; Reference Values; Smoking; Smoking - immunology; Smoking - pathology; Studies; Sweden; Adhesion molecules; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Bronchoialveolar lavage fluid; Neutrophils; Sputum
• ISSN: 1465-9921; 1465-993X; 1465-993X
• DOI: 10.1186/1465-9921-14-47

Background The aim of the study was to investigate how the expression of adhesion molecules changes as neutrophils migrate from the circulation to the lung and if these changes differ between non-smoking subjects and smokers with and without COPD. Methods Non-smoking healthy subjects (n=22), smokers without (n=21) and with COPD (n=18) were included. Neutrophils from peripheral blood, sputum and bronchial biopsies were analysed for cell surface expression of adhesion molecules (CD11b, CD62L, CD162). Serum, sputum supernatant and BAL-fluid were analysed for soluble adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, -3, E-selectin, P-selectin, VCAM-1, PECAM-1). Results Expression of CD11b was increased on circulating neutrophils from smokers with COPD. It was also increased on sputum neutrophils in both smokers groups, but not in non-smokers, as compared to circulating neutrophils. Serum ICAM-1 was higher in the COPD group compared to the other two groups (p<0.05) and PECAM-1 was lower in smokers without COPD than in non-smoking controls and the COPD group (p<0.05). In BAL-fluid ICAM-1 was lower in the COPD group than in the other groups (p<0.05). Conclusions Thus, our data strongly support the involvement of a systemic component in COPD and demonstrate that in smokers neutrophils are activated to a greater extent at the point of transition from the circulation into the lungs than in non-smokers.