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Methods: Using immuno-fluorescence staining, the expression of APRIL was assessed in sections of lungs from 4 subjects with primary diagnosis of COPD (FEV1 33±20% predicted), 4 subjects with primary diagnosis of NSCLC, 4 subjects diagnosed with both COPD and NSCLC, 4 smokers without COPD or NSCLC and 4 healthy never-smokers. The percentage of B cells, alveolar macrophages (AMs), and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) in the lung, and alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) that stained positively for APRIL were quantified using epi-fluorescence microscopy and image analysis software.

Result: The percentage of APRIL-expressing B cells, AMs, PMNs, and the numver of APRIL-expressing alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) were higher in patients having both COPD and NSCLC than in patients with either COPD or NSCLC alone, SC, or NSC (P< 0.03 for all comparisons). The percentage of APRIL …