Polymorphonuclear leucocytes consume oxygen in sputum from chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia in cystic fibrosis

Abstract

The results demonstrate that CF sputum contains PMNs with an active consumption of O(2) for O(-)(2) production and suggest that the respiratory burst is ongoing and causes accelerated O(2) depletion due to formation of O(-)(2) in the lungs of chronically infected patients with CF.