Figure 2.

Morphology of inflammatory cells in IS from HER groups.

Notes: (A–C) IS from an eosinophilic patient of COPD C group; eosinophil undergoing EETosis nuclei (*) appear associated to free granules (arrowheads in A and C), with abundant cell debris and abundant membranes (arrows in B) that have been partially phagocytosed by a macrophage. A Neu undergoing early NETosis changes, determined by the loss of the nuclear lobulation and high decondensation, is closely associated with abundant extracellular membranes (arrows) and is shown in C. (D) IS from a neutrophilic patient of the COPD D group showing a normal Neu contacting with a large decondensed nuclear material (*) associated with few remaining secretory granules (arrowheads).

Abbreviations: IS, induced sputum; HER, high exacerbation rate; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Ma, macrophages; NETosis, neutrophil extracellular trap cell death; Neu, neutrophils; EETosis, eosinophil extracellular trap cell death.