Inflammatory cell mapping of the respiratory tract in fatal asthma

• Published in: Clinical and experimental allergy 2005-05, Vol.35 (5), p.602-611
• Main Authors: De Magalhães Simões, S., Dos Santos, M. A., Da Silva Oliveira, M., Fontes, E. S., Fernezlian, S., Garippo, A. L., Castro, I., Castro, F. F. M., De Arruda Martins, M., Saldiva, P. H. N., Mauad, T., Dolhnikoff, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Allergic diseases; Antigens, CD - immunology; asthma; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchi - chemistry; Bronchi - immunology; Bronchi - pathology; Cell Count; Child; Eosinophils - chemistry; Eosinophils - immunology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; image analysis; Immunohistochemistry - methods; Immunopathology; inflammation; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammation - pathology; Lung - chemistry; Lung - immunology; Lung - pathology; lung parenchyma; Lymphocytes - chemistry; Lymphocytes - immunology; Male; Mast Cells - chemistry; Mast Cells - immunology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; morphometry; Nasal Mucosa - chemistry; Nasal Mucosa - immunology; Nasal Mucosa - pathology; Neutrophils - chemistry; Neutrophils - immunology; Respiratory System - immunology; Respiratory System - pathology; small airways; Status Asthmaticus - immunology; Status Asthmaticus - mortality; Status Asthmaticus - pathology; Trachea - chemistry; Trachea - immunology; Trachea - pathology; upper airways
• ISSN: 0954-7894; 1365-2222
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2005.02235.x

Summary Background The site and distribution of inflammation in the airways of asthmatic patients has been largely investigated. Inflammatory cells are distributed in both large and small airways in asthma. It has been demonstrated that distal lung inflammation in asthma may significantly contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease. The upper airways have also been implicated in the overall asthmatic inflammation. Although it is now accepted that lung inflammation is not restricted to the intrapulmonary airways in asthma, little is known about cell distribution in the other lung compartments and their relation to the intrapulmonary airways. Objective We aimed to map the inflammatory process in fatal asthma (FA), from the upper airways to the lung parenchyma. Methods Eosinophil, neutrophil, mast cell and lymphocyte content were determined in nasal mucosa, the trachea, intrapulmonary airways and parenchyma (peribronchiolar and distal) of 20 patients with FA and 10 controls. Results Eosinophil content was higher in all studied areas in FA compared with controls (P