Interrelationships of inflammatory markers in bronchial disease

DL Bayley, SW Crooks, RC Jones, MM Johnson, CG Llewellyn-Jones, SL Hill, RA Stockley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Elastase released by neutrophils following their recruitment to the airways is believed to play a key role in the pathogenesis of bronchial disease despite the presence of physiological inhibitors (R. A. Stockley et al, Q.J. Med. 1995; 88: 141-146). For example interleukin-8 (IL-8) may lead to neutrophil infiltration and subsequent degranulation. Degranulation products, such as elastase, cause epithelial cells to produce IL-8, thereby amplifying the inflammatory process. In addition elastase may potentiate its own activity by the reduction of secretory leukoprotease inhibitor (SLPI) production (J. M. Sallenave et al, Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 1994; 11: 733-741). In order to investigate these interactions we measured elastase activity and related it to other potentially interdependent factors. Samples from fourteen patients with bronchlectasis (BE) and seven patients with chronic bronchitis (CB) were collected at monthly intervals on four occasions. All patients were clinically stable during the study period. All samples were graded and assigned numbers according to an in-house scale. Sol-phase was obtained and elastase, Cathepsln B (Cat B) and leukotriene B4, SLPI, α-1-protease inhibitor (α⌉PI) were measured by ELISA. Elastase activity in the BE samples showed a positive Spearsman rank correlation with purulence number (n = 53, rs = 0.786, p < 0.001), MPO (n = 40, rs = 0.804, p < 0.001), IL-8 (n = 53, rs = 0.367, p < 0.01) and α⌉PI (n = 52, rs = 0.733, p < 0.001) and a negative correlation with SLPI (n = 53, rs = 0.492, p < 0.001). These results confirm that; (i) elastase activity is dependent upon neutrophil infiltration as determined by sputum colour and MPO, (ii) it also relates to IL-8 which may be a combination of cause and effect and (iii) elastase activity is associated with Cat B which it activated in vitro and negatively associated with SLPI.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages0
JournalThorax
Volume51
Issue number0
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 1996

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