Bronchitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bronchitis, including details on pulmonary disorders, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention.

Novel neutrophil-derived proteins in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid indicate an exaggerated inflammatory response in pediatric cystic fibrosis patients.

McMorran BJ, Patat SA, Carlin JB, Grimwood K, Jones A, Armstrong DS, Galati JC, Cooper PJ, Byrnes CA, Francis PW, Robertson CF, Hume DA, Borchers CH, Wainwright CE, Wainwright BJ

Menzies Research Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia. brendan.mcmorran@utas.edu.au

BACKGROUND: Airway inflammation in cystic fibrosis (CF) is exaggerated and characterized by neutrophil-mediated tissue destruction, but its genesis and mechanisms remain poorly understood. To further define the pulmonary inflammatory response, we conducted a proteome-based screen of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collected from young children with and without CF experiencing endobronchial infection. METHODS: We collected BALF samples from 45 children younger than 5 years and grouped them according to the presence of respiratory pathogens: > or = 1 x 10(5) colony-forming units (CFU)/mL BALF (18 and 12 samples with and without CF, respectively) and <1 x 10(5) CFU/mL (23 and 15 samples). BALF proteins were analyzed with SELDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) and H4 ProteinChips. Proteins were identified and characterized using trypsin digestion, tandem MS, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance MS, immunoblotting, and ELISA. RESULTS: The SELDI-TOF MS BALF profiles contained 53 unique, reliably detected proteins. Peak intensities of 24 proteins differed significantly between the CF and non-CF samples. They included the neutrophil proteins, alpha-defensin 1 and 2, S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12, as well as novel forms of S100A8 and S100A12 with equivalent C-terminal deletions. Peak intensities of these neutrophil proteins and immunoreactive concentrations of selected examples were significantly higher in CF than non-CF samples. CONCLUSIONS: Small neutrophil-derived BALF proteins, including novel C-terminal truncated forms of S100A proteins, are easily detected with SELDI-TOF MS. Concentrations of these molecules are abnormally high in early CF lung disease. The data provide new insights into CF lung disease and identify novel proteins strongly associated with CF airway inflammation.

Published 21 September 2007 in Clin Chem, 53(10): 1782-91.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Bronchitis Research Today. All Rights Reserved.