Functional activity of phagocytes of bronchoalveolar lavage in patients with fibro-cavernous and infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis

Functional activity of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) phagocytes was studied in 33 and 16 patients with fibro-cavernous and infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis (FCPT and IPT, respectively). Complex examination of BALF, alveolar macrophages and neutrophils sedimented from BALF has shown interrelationship between functional activity of the cells and the form of pulmonary tuberculosis. Higher neopterin content and activity of elastase mainly secreted into BALF by activated alveolar macrophages and neutrophils, respectively, reflect higher secretory activity of both types of cells in FCPT. In FCPT this is combined with higher bactericidal activity of neutrophils, which significantly correlates with their adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity. Comparison of changes of the biochemical parameters studied in BALF (neopterin, elastase, ADA and its isoenzymes, 2-deoxy-ADA) and bactericidal activity of the sedimented cells obviously reflects different sides of BALF phagocytes functioning. Taking into consideration modern concepts on the mechanisms of regulation of phagocyte cells one may suggest the existence of differences in intercellular interactions in various forms of pulmonary tuberculosis.