Investigation of blood neutrophil structural and functional characteristics in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary hypertension using atomic force microscopy

Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate structural and functional characteristics (morphology, membrane stiffness, adhesion) of blood neu trophils in patients with COPD and pulmonary hypertension (PH) using atomic force microscopy. Methods. This was a local open comparative study involving 30 in patients with severe COPD. Of them, 15 patients had PH and 15 patients had normal pulmonary artery pressure. Complete blood cell count was performed in the 1st day of admission. Pulse oxymetry, spirometry, echocardiographic examination were used in all patients. Neutrophils were separated from venous blood. Surfaces of 10–12 cells were scanned and lateral section curves were constructed to meas ure the cell height and maximal height of cytoplasmic granules. Nuclear and cell areas were also calculated using Pico Image Basic 5.1 software. The membrane elastic properties and adhesion strength of native neutrophils were evaluated using force spectrometry. Results. Neutrophil adhesion strength was significantly higher in patients with COPD + PH compared to this parameter in patients with COPD and normal pulmonary artery pressure. In patients with COPD + PH neutrophils had less nuclear segments and significantly higher cell phasic height, increased cytoplasm granularity adhesion strength and membrane stiffness. Conclusion. The results demonstrated that structural and functional changes in blood neutrophils were more significant in patients with COPD and PH.

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