Epithelial Damage in the Airways during Acute Exacerbations of Childhood Asthma

摘要

We examined epithelial damage in the airways during exacerbations of childhood asthma. The sputum samples from patients (mean age 3.4 (+-)0.4 years) with acute exacerbations of childhood asthma were examined. The presence of conglomerates of epithelial cells (ie. "Creola bodies, CrB) was utilised as a marker of epithelial damage. CrB was detected in 60(percent) of the sputum samples. CrB (+) patients displayed more than a 10-fold increase in the concentration of the neutrophil-mobilizing cytokine IL-8 and of the neutrophil elastase, compared with CrB (-) patients. In conclusion, epithelial damage as indicated by CrB is associated with local mobilization of neutrophils, in the airways of childhood asthma.