Neutrophil Function in Elderly Patients Hospitalized with Community- Acquired Pneumonia

Authors

Jorge Perez San Juan, University of LouisvilleFollow
Lisandra Rodriguez Hernandez, University of LouisvilleFollow
Timothy L. Wiemken, University of Louisville, Louisville, KYFollow
Robert R. Kelley, University of Louisville, Louisville, KYFollow
Rafael Fernandez-Botran, University of Louisville, Louisville, KYFollow
Martin Gnoni, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, Ashland, KYFollow
Paula Peyrani, University of Louisville, Louisville, KYFollow
Madhavi J. Rane, University of Louisville, Louisville, KYFollow
Forest W. Arnold, University of Louisville, Louisville, KYFollow
Julio A. Ramirez, University of Louisville, Louisville, KYFollow
Silvia Uriarte, University of Louisville, Louisville, KYFollow
Jose Bordon, Providence Hospital, Washington, DCFollow

Funder

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.

Abstract

Background: Advanced age is associated with immunosenescence as well as increased risk for poor outcomes during episodes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Data on neutrophil function in hospitalized elderly patients with CAP is lacking. In this study we compared neutrophil function in elderly and non-elderly hospitalized patients with CAP.

Methods: Prospective study of healthy controls (HC) and patients hospitalized with CAP nonelderly (NE-CAP) and elderly (E-CAP). Blood samples were obtained on the day of hospitalization. The following neutrophil functional assays were performed: degranulation of secretory vesicles (CD35), degranulation of specific granules (CD66b), phagocytosis, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare differences in neutrophil function.

Results: A total of 12 HC, 28 NE-CAP, and 12 E-CAP were evaluated. There were no significant differences between NE-CAP and E-CAP patients in regard to CD35 expression (p=0.465), CD66b expression (p=0.601), phagocytosis (p=0.654), or H₂O₂ production (p=0.541)

Conclusions: We failed to demonstrate any significant difference in neutrophil function in nonelderly versus elderly patients hospitalized with CAP in relation to membrane expression of CD35 and CD66b, phagocytosis, and respiratory burst. Abnormal neutrophil function is unlikely to be an important component of the immunosenescence described in elderly patients with CAP.

DOI

10.18297/jri/vol1/iss1/3

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Perez San Juan, Jorge; Rodriguez Hernandez, Lisandra; Wiemken, Timothy L.; Kelley, Robert R.; Fernandez-Botran, Rafael; Gnoni, Martin; Peyrani, Paula; Rane, Madhavi J.; Arnold, Forest W.; Ramirez, Julio A.; Uriarte, Silvia; and Bordon, Jose (2017) "Neutrophil Function in Elderly Patients Hospitalized with Community- Acquired Pneumonia," The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections: Vol. 1 : Iss. 1 , Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18297/jri/vol1/iss1/3
Available at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/jri/vol1/iss1/3