Abstract: | AIM: To study content of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and free radical oxidation in neutrophils of blood, saliva and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in chronic bronchitis for prediction of obstructive defects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Enzyme immunoassay was used to measure IL-1 beta in the blood, saliva, BAL of 49 males with chronic bronchitis aged 39-72 years. Functional ability of the neutrophils to generate free oxygen radicals was assessed by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. RESULTS: Patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis exhibited excessive accumulation of IL-1 beta in the blood and BAL, enhanced activity of hematosalivary barrier for IL-1 beta and production of active oxygen radicals by systemic and tissue neutrophils. CONCLUSION: Elevated concentration of systemic and tissue IL-1 beta, activation of free radical oxidation by blood neutrophils and BAL, enhancement of hematosalivary barrier for IL-1 beta can be considered as prognostically unfavourable factors of bronchial obstruction in patients with chronic bronchitis. |