Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are characterized by frequent relapses, often resulting from common bacterial infections. Enhancing the immune response in these patients may decrease the frequency of these relapses. The use of a mechanic Polyvalent Bacterial Lysate (PMBL, Ismigen, 13 bacterial strains)may enhance the immune response and therefore help significantly to the control of relapse in these patients.

In the current study the effect of the administration of the PBML to patients older than 40 years, with moderate, severe or very severe COPD, in good or discrete physical condition on the number of relapses in an observation period of 12 months. In addition, the effect of the PMBL on the duration of the interval between relapses, on relapse symptoms, on the use of other drugs, on the number of days of absence of work, on the number of hospitalizations and duration thereof and on potential toxicity of the treatment.

Ancillary Study at the center of Genoa:

To investigate in a subgroup of patient, taking part in the AIACE study, the ability of PMBL to induce an Ig response, to modify the NK blood pattern, and to modulate inflammatory parameters (e.g. CRP).

Material & Methods:

30 patients who were enrolled at the Respiratory Department of Genoa University during the AIACE trial and double blind randomly treated with bacterial lysate or placebo, will participate in this ancillary study.

A further informed consent to participate in this laboratory trial will be requested to the patient besides the already ethical procedure approved for the AIACE study.

In order to assess the enhancement of the concentration of salivary antibodies, a sample of salivary fluid (SF) will be collected at day 0 using Salivette (Starsted, Germany, used according to the manufacture's instructions) and stored frozen until assayed. Then, treatment with PMBL will be carried out for ten days. After twenty-day rest (day 30), at the end of first treatment course (day 90) at the beginning and at the end of the second drug course (day 180, 210) and at the end of the study (day 360), a SF sample will be collected and stored frozen.

Besides the AIACE laboratory procedure already approved, a further blood sample (6 glass tubes) will be collected for peripheral NK blood phenotyping and CRP dosage.

Purified NK cells will obtained from peripheral blood sample at time 0, 90 and 360 by negative selection by using the NK cell isolation Kit (Miltenyi Biotech, Bergisch Gladbach - Germany) following the manufacturer instructions. The NK cell populations are assessed for purity and only those homogeneously displaying CD3-CD14-CD15-CD19- phenotype are selected.

Cells obtained as above described will be analyzed (time t0) by flow cytometry using the following mAbs: anti-CD3, anti-CD56, anti-NKp30, anti-NKp46, anti-NKp44, anti-NKG2D, anti-CD158B1/B2j, anti-KIR p70, anti-CD159A , anti-CD226 (Immunotech -Marseille, France).

In order to assess the efficacy of PMBL on systemic inflammation CRP will be evaluated at day 0 90 and 360. Finally, special T cell subpopulations, such as regulatory T cells, will be assayed on collected samples, together with the concentration of circulating chemokines, cytokines and inflammation-related molecules using a specific immunobeads and flow cytometry.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with documented moderate, severe and very severe COPD
• Age greater than or equal to 40 years.
• Female patient must be non-lactating and of non-childbearing potential, surgically sterile, or using effective contraception.
• Patients must have WHO performance status of 0, 1 or 2.
• Patients must have adequate hematological, renal and liver function as defined by laboratory values below performed within 14 days, inclusive, prior to study randomization.
• Smokers, ex-smokers can be included but the smoking status is acquired and accurately recorded
• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 2.0 x 109/l.
• Platelet count ≥ 100 x 109/l.
• Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dl (> 6.2 mmol/l).
• Urea and serum creatinine <1.5 times upper limit of laboratory normal (ULN).
• Total serum bilirubin <1.5 times ULN.
• ALAT or ASAT <5 times ULN.
• Alkaline phosphatase <5 times ULN.
• Gammaglutamyltransferase (GGT) <5 times ULN.
• LDH <5 times ULN.
• Before patient randomization, written informed consent must be given according to ICH/GCP, and national/local regulations.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who had received any prior antineoplastic drug therapy or immunosuppressive drugs.
• Patients under continuous treatment with systemic steroids.
• Presence of severe cardiac disease including uncontrolled angina pectoris and myocardial infarction within 6 months, uncontrolled high blood pressure.
• Presence of severe respiratory disease as identified from spirometry and/or chest X ray.
• Presence of any other uncontrolled severe medical condition including active gastroduodenal ulcer, alcohol disorders ( hepatitis, Korsakoff syndrome..), diabetes, active or uncontrolled infection, evolutive intracranial hypertension"
• Patients pregnant or nursing at the beginning of the study.
• Presence of any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule; those conditions should be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial.