Eicosanoids and Eosinophilic Inflammation of Airways in Stable COPD

PURPOSE: Lipid mediators, particularly eicosanoids, are associated with airway inflammation, especially with the eosinophilic influx. This study aimed to measure lipid mediators and cells in induced sputum, that could possibly reflect the inflammatory process in the bronchial tree of COPD subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty patients diagnosed with COPD and 37 healthy controls participated in the study. Induced sputum samples were ascertained for differential cell count and induced sputum supernatant concentrations of selected eicosanoids by the means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Increased sputum eosinophilia was associated with higher concentrations of selected proinflammatory eicosanoids. In COPD subjects prostaglandin D(2) and 11-dehydro-thromboxane B(2) correlated negatively with airway obstruction measured by FEV(1) and FEV(1)/FVC values. COPD subjects with disease exacerbations during past 12 months had significantly higher concentrations of prostaglandin D(2), 12-oxo-eicosatetraenoic acid and 5-oxo-eicosatetraenoic acid. CONCLUSION: Stable COPD is often associated with eosinophil influx in the lower airways and elevated concentrations of eicosanoids that is reflected by some disease characteristics.