Similar activation state of neutrophils in sputum of XXXX @entity1 irrespective of sputum @entity1712 .

@entity1 @entity4634 @entity1712 @entity565 @entity1196 @entity9536 @entity7986
UNASSIGNED: Inflammatory phenotypes of @entity565 are associated with differences in disease characteristics. It is unknown whether these inflammatory phenotypes are reflected by the activation status of neutrophils in blood and sputum. We obtained peripheral blood and induced sputum from 21 @entity565 @entity1 and stratified our samples based on sputum @entity1712 resulting in two groups (>3% eosinophils: n  =  13,  <3%: n  =  8). Eosinophils and neutrophils from blood and sputum were analysed for expression of activation and degranulation markers by flow cytometry. Data were analysed by both classical, non-parametric statistics and a multi-dimensional approach, using principal component analysis (PCA). @entity1 with sputum @entity1712 were characterized by increased @entity565 control questionnaire (ACQ) scores and blood eosinophil counts. Both sputum neutrophils and eosinophils displayed an activated and degranulated phenotype compared to cells obtained from blood. Specifically, degranulation of all granule types was detected in sputum cells, combined with an increased expression of the activation markers (activated) @entity9536 ( @entity9536 ), @entity4634 ( @entity4634 ) ( @entity4634 ) and a decreased expression of @entity1196 . @entity7986 expression was only increased on sputum eosinophils. Surface marker expression of neutrophils was similar in the presence or absence of @entity1712 , either by single or multi-dimensional analysis. Sputum neutrophils were highly activated and degranulated irrespective of sputum @entity1712 . Therefore, we conclude that differences in granulocyte activation in sputum and/or blood are not associated with clinical differences in the two groups of @entity565 @entity1 . The finding of @entity4634 expression on sputum granulocytes suggests an immunomodulatory role of these cells in the tissue.
