IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN COPD AND ASTHMA

Abstract

Asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are two different inflammatory disorders of the lungs. Many cells are involved in the inflammatory response in asthma and, among these, CD4+ lymphocytes, mast cells and eosinophils are thought to play a crucial role. In COPD, the poorly reversible airflow limitation is associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles or gases [2]. This chronic inflammation is characterized by an increased number of CD8+ T-lymphocytes and macrophages in the lung tissue and neutrophils in the airway lumen.