Human alveolar macrophages: comparison of cell size, autofluorescence, and HLA-DR antigen expression in smokers and nonsmokers

Pankow, W.; Neumann, K.; Rüschoff, J.; von Wichert, P.

Cancer Detection and Prevention 19(3): 268-273

1995


ISSN/ISBN: 0361-090X
PMID: 7750115
Document Number: 439637
To investigate the influence of cigarette smoking on alveolar macrophages (AM) we compared morphologic and immunocytochemic characteristics of bronchoalveolar lavage cells collected from 10 smokers and 8 nonsmokers. AM were studied using single cell fluorescence photometry. AM of smokers were larger in size (p < 0.001), showed stronger autofluorescence (p < 0.001), and expressed fewer HLA-DR antigens (p < 0.001) compared with AM of nonsmokers. AM of smokers were more heterogeneous in respect to cell size, autofluorescence, and HLA-DR antigen expression. HLA-DR antigen density on AM of smokers was independent of cell size and autofluorescence. This suggests that tobacco smoke reduces HLA-DR antigen expression in AM of different maturational states and that this defective expression of HLA class II antigens is not dependent on the amount of phagocytosed autofluorescent tobacco particles.

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