肺泡蛋白沉积症的特征为在肺泡内具有颗粒状蛋白物质的沉积。患肺泡蛋白沉积症的病人并发肺部感染的发病率高,提示肺泡巨噬细胞的功能异常。为了研究这些细胞的功能,从两个病人中通过用生盐水溶液从肺部灌洗获得肺泡巨噬细胞,并在试管中用金黄色化脓性葡萄球菌孵育。测量从培养物中能生存的细菌的存活部分,并将其与从正常肺泡巨噬细胞中获得结果相对照。在观察吞噬作用减弱的基础上,结果指出:这些病人中肺泡巨噬细胞抗菌的 Alveolar proteinosis is characterized by the deposition of granular proteinaceous material in the alveoli. Patients with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis complicated by a high incidence of pulmonary infection suggest that dysfunction of alveolar macrophages. To study the function of these cells, alveolar macrophages were obtained from both patients by lavage from the lungs with a saline solution and incubated in tubes with S. pyogenes. Survival fractions of bacteria that survived in culture were measured and compared to results obtained from normal alveolar macrophages. Based on the observation of the phagocytosis weakened, the results indicate that the alveolar macrophages in these patients are antimicrobial