The percentage of epithelial cells expressing MICA/MICB is increased with COPD severity.

<p>Human lung tissue was dispersed and stained with monoclonal antibodies against CD45, CD56, NKG2D, CD326, and MICA/MICB. (<b>A</b>) Representative staining showing the expression of NKG2D on CD45+ CD56+ cells from a smoker without COPD (left panel) and a subject with COPD (right panel). Blue line, NKG2D+ staining; grey line, isotype control. (<b>B</b>) The percentage of CD56+ cells that express NKG2D (y-axis) versus FEV₁ % predicted (x-axis). x, smokers without COPD (<i>n</i> = 10); □, mild COPD (<i>n</i> = 5); Δ, severe COPD (<i>n</i> = 10). N.S., not significant. (<b>C</b>) Representative staining showing the expression of MICA/MICB on CD45−, CD326 (EpCAM)+ epithelial cells from a smoker without COPD (left panel) and a subject with COPD (right panel). Blue line, MICA/MICB+ staining; grey line, isotype control. (<b>D</b>) The percentage of CD326+ epithelial cells that express MICA/MICB (y-axis) versus FEV₁ % predicted (x-axis). x, smokers without COPD (<i>n</i> = 10); □, mild COPD (<i>n</i> = 5); Δ, severe COPD (<i>n</i> = 10). Spearman correlation was used to determine the p value.