Selective accumulation of langerhans-type dendritic cells in small airways of patients with COPD.

Background: Dendritic cells (DC) linking innate and adaptive immune responses are present in human lungs, but the characterization of different subsets and their role in COPD pathogenesis remain to be elucidated. The aim of this study is to characterize and quantify pulmonary myeloid DC subsets in small airways of current and ex-smokers with or without COPD.

Methods: Myeloid DC were characterized using flowcytometry on single cell suspensions of digested human lung tissue.