[Variety of neutrophil chemotactic factors in the respiratory tracts in patients with respiratory diseases].

We measured NCF activity and examined the characteristics of NCF in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, sputum and culture media of alveolar macrophages. Several kinds of NCF were detected in BAL fluid obtained from normal volunteers, and at least a part of these NCF was thought to be derived from alveolar macrophages. NCF activity, especially complement-derived NCF, was increased in BAL fluid and in sputum obtained from patients with chronic respiratory tract infection. In patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, alveolar macrophage-derived NCF as well as complement derived NCF were increased in BAL fluid. These results indicate that different types of NCF may increase in response to the disease state or pathogenesis, and play important roles in neutrophil accumulation in the respiratory tract.