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Measuring granulocyte apoptosis in airway inflammation
  1. M G Kelly1,
  2. J S Elborn1,
  3. M G Kelly2,
  4. V Brown2,
  5. M Ennis2
  1. 1Respiratory Research Group, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, UK
  2. 2Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Centre for Inflammation, Infection and Repair, Queens University, Belfast, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr M Kelly, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7AB, UK;
    m.g.kelly{at}qub.ac.uk

https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax.57.4.376

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    We read with interest the paper by Turlej et al describing enhanced survival of lung granulocytes in an animal model of asthma.1 As discussed by the authors, modulation of immune cell apoptosis is likely to be important in controlling inflammatory processes, and the paper enhances our understanding of this.

    However, we feel that there are some methodological problems with the study. Firstly, the animal model they describe, though having some similarities with asthma, is closer to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Neutrophils are the predominant inflammatory cells in this model. This condition is often known as COPD in horses.2

    Secondly, although the authors refer to the use of annexin V (AV) and propidium iodide (PI), they do not describe the methodology used or how they interpreted the staining with AV and PI. This is important because there are controversies surrounding the interpretation of …

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