IMPAIRED INVITRO BETA-ADRENERGIC GRANULOCYTE RESPONSE IN CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE

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Abstract
Isoproterenol (ISO), histamine (HIS) and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) inhibit the in vitro release of the lysosomal enzyme, .beta.-glucuronidase, from [human] polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) during incubation with complement-coated zymosan particles. In asthma, this granulocyte response to ISO and HIS is impaired. This in vitro cell model was used to assess granulocyte .beta.-adrenergic response in 23 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). All had long-standing disease and severe obstruction (FEV1 [forced expiratory volume] = 37.5% of predicted). The granulocyte response to HIS challenge in patients with COPD was normal when compared to control subjects, in contrast to the response from the asthmatic group. The granulocyte response to ISO challenge in patients with COPD, was reduced compared to control subjects, but not to the degree found in the asthmatics. Reduced granulocyte response to ISO is not limited to asthmatics; it can also be found in other obstructive diseases of the lung.