Indices of inflammatory activity in CB and COAD. Phagocyte secretion and chemotaxis

The monitoring of inflammatory activity in the lungs of patients with chronic obstructive airways disease may be accomplished by the measurement of specific markers of inflammatory cell activity such as the eosinophil cationic protein and the neutrophil-derived myeloperoxidase. However, no specific marker, which reflects the activity of the alveolar macrophage, is available. Eosinophil and neutrophil chemotactic activity may be detected in broncho-alveolar fluid as a sign of macrophage activity. We report preliminary data, which indicate that both chemotactic activities are elevated in patients with chronic bronchitis. The predominant activities elute at a molecular weight of about 10 kDa but also at a position after the total volume of the column. We conclude that secretory products from inflammatory cells may be measured in broncho-alveolar fluid from patients with chronic bronchitis. Whether such measurements will prove useful in relation to therapeutic trials in these patients is not known but is most likely.