MRP14 is elevated in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of fibrosing interstitial lung diseases

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology Vol. 161; no. 2; pp. 342 - 347
• Main Authors: Korthagen, N.M, Nagtegaal, M.M, van Moorsel, C.H.M, Kazemier, K.M, van den Bosch, J.M.M, Grutters, J.C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2010; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell; Oxford University Press; Blackwell Science Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - analysis; Biomarkers - metabolism; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - chemistry; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - cytology; calgranulin B; Calgranulin B - analysis; Calgranulin B - metabolism; Carbon Monoxide - metabolism; Cell Count; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - metabolism; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - pathology; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - physiopathology; interstitial lung disease; IPF; Lung Diseases, Interstitial - complications; Lung Diseases, Interstitial - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neutrophils - pathology; Pneumology; Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity - physiology; Pulmonary Fibrosis - etiology; Pulmonary Fibrosis - metabolism; Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases; S100A9; sarcoidosis; Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary - diagnosis; Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary - metabolism; Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary - physiopathology; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Translational Studies; Vital Capacity - physiology; Young Adult; Lung disease; Calgranulin B; Sarcoidosis; Respiratory disease; Bronchoalveolar lavage; interstitial lung disease; Systemic disease; Fibrosis; Interstitial pneumonitis; Biochemistry; S100A9; IPF
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2010.04181.x

Pulmonary fibrosis is defined by an overgrowth of fibroblasts and extracellular matrix deposition, and results in respiratory dysfunction that is often fatal. It is the end stage in many chronic inflammatory interstitial lung diseases (ILD) such as sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The myeloid-related proteins (MRPs) belong to the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins and are highly expressed by neutrophils, macrophages and epithelial cells during chronic inflammation. MRP14 stimulates fibroblast proliferation in vitro and is expressed in granulomas from sarcoidosis patients. We hypothesized that MRP14 may be a biomarker for fibrotic interstitial lung diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate whether levels of MRP14 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with sarcoidosis and IPF correlate with clinical parameters. We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure MRP14 in BALF of 74 sarcoidosis patients, 54 IPF patients and 19 controls. Mean BALF levels of MRP14 were elevated significantly in IPF (P < 0·001) and sarcoidosis (P < 0·05) patients compared to controls. MRP14 levels were associated linearly with sarcoidosis disease severity based on chest radiographic stage. Moreover, BALF MRP14 levels were correlated inversely with diffusion capacity and forced vital capacity in sarcoidosis patients. In IPF patients, a correlation with BALF neutrophil percentage was found. In conclusion, BALF MRP14 levels are elevated in IPF and sarcoidosis and are associated with disease severity in sarcoidosis. The results support the need for further studies into the role of MRP14 in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis.