• J L Wright, J Hobson, B R Wiggs, and J C Hogg.
• University of British Columbia Pulmonary Research Laboratory, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
• Lung. 1988 Jan 1; 166 (2): 75-83.

AbstractThis study compares the inflammatory cell types in the alveolar airspace, peripheral airways, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of 65 human lung specimens removed surgically. The data show that the cellular population in the airway tissue is composed of approximately 2-4% neutrophils, and 96-98% mononuclear inflammatory cells. This contrasts with the airway lumen, which contains approximately 5-14% neutrophils, while the alveolar airspace contains 3%, and the lavage fluid contains 4% neutrophils. There is a significant correlation between the percentage of PMN in the walls of the membranous and respiratory bronchioles, as well as between the walls and lumens of respiratory and membranous bronchioles. We conclude that: 1. The lumen of the membranous bronchioles contains a greater percentage of PMN than the lumen of the respiratory bronchiole or of the alveoli. 2. Neutrophils are present in the alveolar airspace. 3. The percentages of PMN present in the lumen of the respiratory bronchiole, alveoli, and lavage fluid are similar. 4. The correlation between percentage of PMN in airway wall and lumen suggests a cellular equilibrium between the 2 sites. 5. In this groups of lungs, there is an apparent stereotypic inflammatory response in that the percentages of PMN in the different anatomical sites are relatively similar from case to case. Various workers have suggested that analysis of the cell types present in bronchopulmonary lavage can be used as a therapeutic index, or as a diagnostic test. Our data suggest that lavage does indeed sample the lower airways and alveolar spaces, and that such usage may well be justified.

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