The effect of CD33 expression on inflammatory response in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE

In this article, the effects of CD33 expression from peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes on inflammatory response in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were examined.

METHODS

CD33 and CD64 expression on peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes from patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and healthy control were detected by flow cytometry. To evaluate the effect of CD33 on inflammation immunity in COPD, the correlation between CD33 expression and CD64 expression, as well as inflammatory indices were investigated.

RESULTS

We found that the expression of CD64 on granulocytes and monocytes, as well as the levels of C-reacting protein (CRP) and myoglobin (MYO) or the proportion of neutrophils (N%) significantly increased in COPD patients compared to normal control group (p < 0.01). The expression of CD33 on granulocytes was significantly and negatively correlated with the level of CRP (r = -0.311, p = 0.012), as well as to the level of MYO (r = -0.295. p = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

The granulocytes and monocytes in peripheral blood were activated in patients of acute exacerbation in COPD. CD33 on granulocytes had the potential to inhibit inflammation and prevent tissue damage.