Detection and significance of inflammatory cells and interleukin-8 in induced sputum from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective To evaluate the inflammatory characteristic from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at stable phase and the role of interleukin-8(IL-8) in the pathogenesis of COPD.[WT5”HZ]Methods IL-8 of induced sputum in 18 patients with acute COPD and in 11 normal subjects was detected by ELISA method . Sputum total cell count(TCC) and differential ceml counts were detected by manual method.Results In COPD group, TCC and absolute neutrophil count in COPD group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P0.01). There were a significant increase percentage of neutrophils and a significant decrease percentage of macrophages in COPD group than those in the control group (P0.05). Sputum IL-8 concentration increased significantly compared with the control group〔(5.216±2.914)μg/L vs (2.862±2.511)μg/L, P0.05)〕.[WT5”HZ]Conclusion Airway inflammation in COPD is characterized by a neutrophilic inflammation. IL-8 plays an important role in the airway inflammation and airway obstruction of COPD.Detection of the level of IL-8 in induced sputum can capable of reflecting airway inflammation of COPD.