AIR-FLOW LIMITATION IN CHRONIC-BRONCHITIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH T-LYMPHOCYTE AND MACROPHAGE INFILTRATION OF THE BRONCHIAL-MUCOSA

To investigate whether the airway inflammatory process is different in patients with chronic bronchitis with airflow limitation and those wi th chronic bronchitis without airflow limitation, we obtained bronchia l biopsies from 14 subjects with chronic sputum production and fixed a irway obstruction, and from 10 subjects with chronic sputum production and normal FEV(1), all with a history of cigarette smoking. Paraffin- embedded and frozen bronchial biopsies were examined by immunohistoche mistry to identify the number of neutrophils (neutrophil-elastase), eo sinophils (antieosinophil cationic protein [EG-2]), mast cells (trypta se), T-lymphocytes (CD3), T-lymphocyte subpopulations (CD4 and CD8), B -lymphocytes, and macrophages (CD68) in the submucosa. Subjects with c hronic bronchitis with airflow limitation had a greater number of T-ly mphocytes (p < 0.01) and macrophages (p < 0.05) than subjects with chr onic bronchitis without airflow limitation, whereas the T-lymphocyte s ubpopulations and the numbers of B-lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophi ls, and mast cells were similar in the two groups. When all the subjec ts were considered together, the number of T-lymphocytes correlated in versely with the values of FEV(1) (r = 0.46, p < 0.02). In conclusion, airflow limitation in subjects with chronic bronchitis is associated with an increased number of T-lymphocytes and macrophages in the bronc hial mucosa.