Figure 6

The expression of Hb by standard Western blot analysis in the lung homogenates (n = 6), BALF (n = 6) and induced sputum supernatants (n = 7) of control subjects. BALF had been obtained from subjects with prolonged cough who had normal spirometry, BAL cell profile and HRCT finding. Induced sputum was obtained from healthy non-smokers. The results indicate that the major Hb forms detectable by the commercial antibodies differ between the lung tissue and BALF or sputum, the major band in the lung tissue being the Hbα and Hbβ (not shown in this figure) complex, while it is detected as larger complexes corresponding to Hb tetramers in the "secretions". The expression by using the Hbα and β antibodies in the BALF and sputum was very similar further suggesting that the band represents tetramer. Here only Hbα is shown. For patient characteristics see Table 4.