Effect of 3 weeks' rehabilitation on neutrophil surface antigens and lung function in cystic fibrosis

Neutrophil leukocytes have been shown to be the predominant cells in inflam matory airway infiltrates of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rehabilitation on neutrophil surfac e antigen expression and lung function in healthy controls and stable CF pa tients with moderately severe disease. The absolute number of neutrophils and the level of surface marker expressi on on neutrophils were elevated in 12 CF patients compared with eight healt hy controls. The level of neutrophil surface marker expression was similar in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from CF patients who underwent bronchoscopy for diagnostic or therapeutic reasons. After 3 weeks' rehabilitation, ther e was a significant reduction in the expression of CD11b (complement recept or type 3), CD13 (aminopeptidase N), CD32 (low-affinity Fc gamma chain rece ptor II), and CD35 (complement receptor type 1) in only the CF patients. At the same time, lung function improved significantly. The increase in force d vital capacity correlated significantly with the decrease in CD32 level. These results demonstrate that rehabilitation in a specialized clinic can r educe the neutrophil-dominated inflammation and improve the lung function o f stable CF patients with moderately severe disease even without changing a ny medications.