Effect of 3 weeks' rehabilitation on neutrophil surface antigens and lung function in cystic fibrosis

Neutrophil leukocytes have been shown to be the predominant cells in inflammatory airway infiltrates of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rehabilitation on neutrophil surface antigen expression and lung function in healthy controls and stable CF patients with moderately severe disease. The absolute number of neutrophils and the level of surface marker expression on neutrophils were elevated in 12 CF patients compared with eight healthy controls. The level of neutrophil surface marker expression was similar in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from CF patients who underwent bronchoscopy for diagnostic or therapeutic reasons. After 3 weeks' rehabilitation, there was a significant reduction in the expression of CD11b (complement receptor type 3), CD13 (aminopeptidase N), CD32 (low-affinity Fc gamma chain receptor II), and CD35 (complement receptor type 1) in only the CF patients. At the same time, lung function improved significantly. The increase in forced vital capacity correlated significantly with the decrease in CD32 level. These results demonstrate that rehabilitation in a specialized clinic can reduce the neutrophil-dominated inflammation and improve the lung function of stable CF patients with moderately severe disease even without changing any medications.