Evidence of angiogenesis in bronchial biopsies of smokers with and without airway obstruction.

The involvement of bronchial vasculature in the airway remodelling occurring in symptomatic smokers with normal lung function and with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been poorly investigated. An immunohistochemical study was performed on bronchial biopsies taken from 8 non-smokers and 18 smokers divided, according to global health initiative on obstructive lung diseases (GOLD) classification of COPD, into two groups, GOLD 0 and GOLD 2, each of 9 subjects. The number of vessels and the percentage of vascular area in the lamina propria were evaluated by mAb anti-collagen IV.

Eotaxin and CCR3 are up-regulated in exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.

Background: Eosinophils and T lymphocytes represent constant features in the airways of subjects with exacerbated chronic bronchitis. Eotaxin is the most potent and selective eosinophil chemoattractant which can also attracts lymphocytes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of eotaxin and its receptor, CCR3, in bronchial airways during exacerbation of chronic bronchitis.

Dendritic cell number is related to IL-4 expression in the airways of atopic asthmatic subjects.

Background: Airway dendritic cells are essential for stimulating naive T cells in response to inhaled antigen and for the development of allergic sensitization. IL-4 in vitro can distinguish dendritic cell lines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Our study had the following aims: 1) to compare the distribution of CD1a+ dendritic cells and IL-4+ cells, in the bronchial mucosa of asthmatics and controls 2) to determine the relationship between the numbers of CD1a+ dendritic cells and IL-4+ cells in the bronchial mucosa of asthmatics 3) to determine whether CD1a+ cells express the IL-4 receptor.

The increased number of very late activation antigen-4-positive cells correlates with eosinophils and severity of disease in the induced sputum of asthmatic patients.

Background: Lymphocyte function associate-1 (LFA-1), macrophage antigen-1 (Mac-1), and very late activation antigen-4 (VLA-4) are involved in the infiltration of leukocytes into the tissues. Experimental models of allergic inflammation suggest that VLA-4 could determine the selective recruitment of eosinophils into the inflamed airways.

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the involvement of integrins in eosinophil recruitment in asthma.