ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the apoptosis of alveolar macrophage and its significance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods A total of 11 patients with COPD and 10 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Alveolar macrophages (AM) were harvested from the BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid). The positive rate of myeloperoxidase (MPO) staining of alveolar macrophages by MPO staining was observed so as to indirectly reflect neutrophil apoptosis and the phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by alveolar macrophages. Apoptosis were detected by the transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique. Results The positive rate of alveolar macrophages by MPO staining was lower in COPD group than the control group (P