concanavalin-a and Bronchitis

Asthma and chronic bronchitis are associated with airway remodelling, and airway macrophages are present in bronchial inflammation. TGF-beta and fibronectin released by alveolar macrophages possess a fibrogenic potency. The potential role of alveolar macrophages in airway remodelling was studied in asthma and chronic bronchitis by the release of TGF-beta and fibronectin. Alveolar macrophages were isolated by bronchoalveolar lavage in 14 control subjects, 14 asthmatics and 14 chronic bronchitics. The spontaneous and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- or concanavalin A (Con A)-induced release of TGF-beta and fibronectin was measured by ELISA. Alveolar macrophages from chronic bronchitics spontaneously release greater amounts of TGF-beta and fibronectin than those from asthmatic and control subjects. Alveolar macrophages from asthmatics release greater amounts of TGF-beta and fibronectin than those from control subjects. The spontaneous release of TGF-beta is significantly correlated with that of fibronectin. Fibronectin release was significantly reduced after LPS stimulation, and TGF-beta release was significantly increased after LPS stimulation, except in chronic bronchitis patients. Con A increased the release of TGF-beta in cells from normal subjects. This study suggests that activated macrophages play a role in airway remodelling in chronic bronchitis and to a lesser extent in asthma.

Topics: Adult; Asthma; Bronchitis; Chronic Disease; Concanavalin A; Female; Fibronectins; Humans; Lipopolysaccharides; Macrophages, Alveolar; Male; Middle Aged; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Twenty-seven patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis and 47 patients with chronic non-obstructive bronchitis were subjected to subpopulation analysis of peripheral blood immunocompetent cells. Statistically significant changes in the content of T mu and T gamma cells, killer and suppressor activity of lymphocytes were discovered in patients with chronic bronchitis. One of the immunological differences between chronic obstructive and chronic non-obstructive bronchitis lies in the activity of Con A-induced suppressors, which is appreciably lowered in patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Adolescent; Adult; B-Lymphocytes; Bronchitis; Chronic Disease; Concanavalin A; Drug Evaluation; Humans; Ketotifen; Leukocyte Count; Levamisole; Middle Aged; Prodigiozan; T-Lymphocytes

We have examined in vitro cell-mediated lymphocyte responses to Concanavalin A, (Con. A), and the effects of histamine and indomethacin upon these responses, in normal subjects, and patients with extrinsic and intrinsic asthma, and chronic bronchitis. Lymphocytes from both intrinsic and extrinsic asthmatics are particularly sensitive to histamine-induced suppression of their response to Con. A, and this increased sensitivity was reversed by indomethacin. In these respects, lymphocytes from intrinsic and extrinsic asthmatics behave in an identical fashion, but differ significantly from lymphocytes from both normal subjects and patients with fixed airways obstruction (chronic bronchitis). It is suggested that there is a common immunological mechanism in extrinsic asthma and intrinsic asthma.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Asthma; Bronchitis; Concanavalin A; Humans; Indomethacin; Lymphocyte Activation; Middle Aged