Mast cells in COPD airways: relationship to bronchodilator responsiveness and angiogenesis

Abstract

We have investigated whether mast cells are associated with bronchodilator responsiveness and airway vascular changes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) airways. We have previously shown that the reticular basement membrane is hypervascular and the lamina propria is hypovascular in COPD.Bronchial biopsies from 32 COPD subjects, 15 smokers with normal lung function and 17 controls, were immunostained for factor VIII, mast cell tryptase and chymase antibodies. Mast cells in the airway smooth muscle, the reticular basement membrane and the underlying lamina propria were quantitated.41% of COPD subjects had significant bronchodilator responsiveness, but this was not related to smooth muscle mast cell numbers. The reticular basement membrane had greater mast cell density in all groups compared with controls (p,0.01). In this compartment, perivascular mast cell density was related to hypervascularity. Lamina propria mast cell density was increased only in COPD (p,0.05). Perivascular mast cell density in the lamina propria was not related to its decreased vessel density.Bronchodilator responsiveness in COPD is not related to large airway smooth muscle mast cells of either type; both reticular basement membrane and lamina propria mast cells are increased in COPD patients, and perivascular mast cells may be involved in increased angiogenesis in the reticular basement membrane.

Profiling cellular and inflammatory changes in the airway wall of mild to moderate COPD

“…The current report is limited to the more highly cited ‘classical’ inflammatory cells. In addition, we have previously observed an increase in mast cells in COPD LA LP and are studying SA mast cells. Others have looked at dendritic cells (CD83+) and found them to be few and variable in number, and reduced essentially to zero in the airways in COPD .…”

Asthma and smoking-induced airway disease without spirometric COPD

“…The risk of developing smoking-related inflammation increases with greater smoking intensity in healthy subjects [72]. The bronchial mucosa of asymptomatic smokers without COPD has increased inflammatory cells, including neutrophils, mast cells and macrophages, increased cells staining positive for IL-1β and IL-8, reduced epithelial integrity, and increased thickness of the laminin layer in the subepithelium [73,74]. In smokers with normal lung function, it is likely that epithelial inflammation and glandular hyperplasia contribute to symptoms of chronic bronchitis, impaired inflammatory responses contribute to increased risk of infection and altered immunity contributes to airway damage.…”

Histological Characterization of Mast Cell Chymase in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…15 Clearly, an implication of MCs in COPD pathogenesis is yet unresolved. Taken together, the literature suggests a potential involvement of MCs in pathogenesis of IPAH and COPD; [16][17][18] however, a comprehensive investigation of tissue samples from patients has still not been done. Therefore, in this study we systematically investigated the lungs from IPAH and COPD patients by assessing quantitatively the presence/expression of MCs/MC chymase and the activation/ degranulation of MCs.…”