Fig. 3

Infiltration of inflammatory cells in airways of COPD patients. The number of total inflammatory cells including neutrophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages in BALF samples obtained from patients in the HS, stable COPD and AECOPD groups were determined (a). The percentage of each cell type from total cells (b). Data are expressed as means ± SEM (n = 20 per group). ^*P < 0.05 and ^**P < 0.01 vs. the HS group; ^#P < 0.05 and ^##P < 0.01 vs. the stable COPD group