PULMONARY CELL INFILTRATION AFTER CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO (1-]3)-BETA-D-GLUCAN AND CIGARETTE-SMOKE

Objective and Design: To evaluate the effect of a microbial cell wall component-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucan-on the inflammatory effect induced by cigarette smoke in a subchronic exposure situation. Material: Groups o f guinea-pigs were exposed 5 days/week to cigarette smoke, an aerosol of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, or to both. Methods: The numbers of differen t inflammatory cells were studied in histological sections, enzyme dig ested lung tissue and in lung lavage. Cell enzyme production was measu red. Results: Exposure to (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan or cigarette smoke cau sed only minor alterations in inflammatory cells. Given together they caused an increase in cellularity in the tissue with significantly inc reased numbers of macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophil s. There was also an increase in subepithelial eosinophils. Lung lavag e cell enzyme production was slightly lower in the combined exposure g roup. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan s ynergistically increases the inflammation induced by cigarette smoke. The mechanism may be a downregulation of the macrophage control of inf lammatory cell migration into the lung tissue.