Apoptotic Cell (AC) Uptake by Human Alveolar Macrophages (AM)

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to compare the ability of two types of white blood cells to eat dead host cells, and how this process affects their ability to protect the body from infection. The two cell types are monocytes, a cell in the bloodstream, and alveolar macrophages, a cell in the lung that is ultimately derived from monocytes

Detailed Description
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Volunteers, who may be Veterans or non-Veterans, will be screened by a series of questionnaires, chest X-ray, spirometry, EKG, blood work, and a complete history and physician examination by a study physician. Those who qualify for the study and agree via informed consent, will undergo a fiberoptic bronchoscopy on a separate day for the initial visit. Bronchoscopy is a procedure in which a flexible video instrument is passed via the nose or mouth, through the vocal cords and into the lungs. During the procedure, portions of the lungs will be washed (lavaged) with a salt water solution, to collect the alveolar macrophages. This procedure involves conscious sedation, so that a driver is required on the day of the bronchoscopy. The entire procedure, including placement of an intravenous line to administer medications, local anesthetics, the bronchoscopy itself, and the recovery period, takes about 2.5-3 hours. The cells collected by bronchoscopy will be studied in the research laboratory, and used entirely in that procedure.

Official Title
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Apoptotic Cell Ingestion by Normal Human Alveolar Macrophages

Conditions
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy
* Procedure: blood draw
* Procedure: intravenous catheter


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Veteran or non-Veteran Able to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Unstable heart disease Other systemic disease and unlikely to survive at least 2 years Mental incompetence Prednisone >20 mg/day Participation in another interventional protocol within last 6 weeks Asthma Cystic fibrosis Clinically significant bronchiectasis Lung cancer or any cancer not in remission for at least 5 years Other inflammatory or fibrotic lung disease Use of antibiotics for a lung infection within the past 4 weeks Autoimmune disease, i.e., Rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune hepatitis, Crohn's disease or other

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Group 1<br>volunteer subjects | Procedure: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy<br>* which a flexible video instrument is passed via the nose or mouth, through the vocal cords and into the lungs. During the procedure, portions of the lungs will be washed (lavaged) with a salt water solution, to collect the alveolar macrophages. This procedure involves conscious sedation, so that a driver is required on the day of the bronchoscopy. The entire procedure, including placement of an intravenous line to administer medications, local anesthetics, the bronchoscopy itself, and the recovery period, takes about 2.5-3 hours.<br>Procedure: blood draw<br>* Blood will be collected at the enrollment visit to test the subject to exclude disorders that would make it unsafe to perform the bronchoscopy, including severe anemia, infection, or disorders of kidney or liver function.<br>Procedure: intravenous catheter<br>* An intravenous catheter is placed on the day of the bronchoscopy to permit administration of sedative medications.<br>* Other names: IV;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| macrophage uptake of apoptotic cells in vitro |  | 1-7 days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| spirometric measurement of lung function |  | 1-30 days | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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macrophages, alveolar, monocytes, Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases, Humans, Phagocytosis, Lung, in vitro