BACKGROUND Bronchoalveolar lavage is a useful bronchoscopy technique. However, studies in "normal" children populations are few. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effects of exogenous pulmonary surfactants on the bronchoalveolar cellular components are limited. METHODS Thirty children, aged 3 to 14 years, underwent diagnostic bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage. Differential cytology, cytokine and chemokine measurements were performed on the fluid after exogenous surfactant exposure. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory effects of exogenous surfactants on the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, specifically alveolar macrophages of healthy South African children. RESULTS Alveolar macrophages were the predominant cellular population in normal children. Patients with inflammatory pneumonopathies had significantly more neutrophils. Levels of inflammatory cytokines were significantly lower after exogenous surfactant exposure. Moreover, IL-10 and IL-12 cytokine secretion increased after exogenous surfactant exposure. CONCLUSION This study provides the first data on bronchoalveolar lavage of healthy South African children. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with pulmonary inflammation was characterised by neutrophilia. Finally, we propose that exogenous surfactant treatment could help alleviate inflammation in diseased states where it occurs in the tracheobronchial tree.

中文翻译：

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外源性表面活性剂对小儿支气管肺泡灌洗所致巨噬细胞细胞因子分泌的影响。

背景技术支气管肺泡灌洗是一种有用的支气管镜检查技术。但是，对“正常”儿童群体的研究很少。此外，外源性肺表面活性剂对支气管肺泡细胞成分的抗炎作用受到限制。方法30例3至14岁的儿童接受了诊断性支气管镜检查和支气管肺泡灌洗。外源性表面活性剂暴露后，对液体进行差异细胞学，细胞因子和趋化因子测量。该研究的目的是研究外源性表面活性剂对支气管肺泡灌洗液，特别是健康的南非儿童肺泡巨噬细胞的潜在抗炎作用。结果在正常儿童中，肺泡巨噬细胞是主要的细胞群。患有炎症性肺病的患者中性粒细胞明显增多。外源性表面活性剂暴露后，炎症细胞因子水平显着降低。此外，外源性表面活性剂暴露后，IL-10和IL-12细胞因子的分泌增加。结论本研究提供了健康的南非儿童支气管肺泡灌洗的首批数据。来自肺炎患者的支气管肺泡灌洗液的特征是中性粒细胞增多。最后，我们提出外源性表面活性剂治疗可以帮助减轻在气管支气管树中发生的疾病状态下的炎症。结论本研究提供了健康的南非儿童支气管肺泡灌洗的首批数据。来自肺炎患者的支气管肺泡灌洗液的特征是中性粒细胞增多。最后，我们提出外源性表面活性剂治疗可以帮助减轻在气管支气管树中发生的疾病状态下的炎症。结论本研究提供了健康的南非儿童支气管肺泡灌洗的首批数据。来自肺炎患者的支气管肺泡灌洗液的特征是中性粒细胞增多。最后，我们提出外源性表面活性剂治疗可以帮助减轻在气管支气管树中发生的疾病状态下的炎症。