Phospholipid Composition and Tumoricidal Function of Alveolar Macrophage in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of Primary Lung Cancer Patients

Objective: We analysed the phospholipid composition and tumoricidal function of alveolar macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained from primary lung cancer patients. Methods: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in 10 patients with primary lung cancer, 10 patients with stable idiopathic interstitial pneumonitis and 5 healthy volunteers. The total protein and phospholipid contents and phospholipid classes in BALF were analysed. Alveolar macrophages were obtained from BALF, and cytotoxic in vitro assay was performed using A549 tumor cells. Results: The contents of phospholipid and protein in BALF were higher in primary lung cancer patients than in the others (p< 0.05). Analysis of BALF phospholipid showed that phosphatidylcholine was lower and sphingomyelin was higher in lung cancer patients than in the others. The ratio of phosphatidylcholine/sphingomyelin in BALF of primary lung cancer patients was lower than those in the others (p