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Phagocytic dysfunction of human alveolar macrophages and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Charles S Berenson1, Ragina L Kruzel, Ellana Eberhardt

  • 1Infectious Disease and Pulmonary Medicine Divisions, Department of Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine.

The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|August 3, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Alveolar macrophages in COPD patients show impaired phagocytosis of bacteria like NTHI and MC, but not SP. This defect is linked to COPD severity, offering insights into bacterial persistence.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pulmonology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Alveolar macrophages (AMs) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exhibit impaired phagocytosis of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI).
  • The selectivity of this phagocytic dysfunction among different pathogens and its link to COPD severity remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the phagocytic capacity of AMs from COPD patients against various respiratory pathogens.
  • To determine the correlation between impaired phagocytosis and the severity of COPD.

Main Methods:

  • AMs were isolated from healthy non-smokers, COPD ex-smokers, and active smokers.
  • Phagocytosis assays were performed using labeled NTHI, Moraxella catarrhalis (MC), Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP), and microspheres.

Main Results:

  • COPD patients displayed impaired complement-independent phagocytosis of NTHI and MC, but not SP or microspheres.
  • Complement-mediated phagocytosis was enhanced for SP in all groups.
  • Phagocytic defect was more pronounced for NTHI than MC and correlated significantly with COPD severity (FEV1%predicted).

Conclusions:

  • Defective AM phagocytosis in COPD is pathogen-specific and host-dependent.
  • These findings elucidate the immunological basis for bacterial persistence in COPD.
  • Impaired phagocytosis is demonstrated to be associated with COPD severity.
Keywords:
COPDMoraxella catarrhalisStreptococcus pneumoniaealveolar macrophagenontypeable Haemophilus influenzaephagocytosis

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