Increase in the concentration of transforming growth factor beta-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid before development of chronic lung disease of prematurity.
OBJECTIVE
Pulmonary fibrosis is a prominent feature of chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD). We sought to determine the influence of the potent profibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-Beta 1) on the development of CLD.


METHODS
We determined the concentration of active and total TGF-Beta 1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from 18 infants who subsequently had CLD (mean gestation, 25.7 weeks; birth weight, 816 gm) 15 (29.8 weeks, 1493 gm) who recovered from the respiratory distress syndrome, and 7 (35.1 weeks, 2441 gm) control infants.


RESULTS
The concentration of both active and total TGF-Beta 1 was increased in the infants with CLD when compared with the respiratory distress syndrome and control groups. The increase in active and total TGF-Beta 1 was greatest on day 4 of age, when infants who eventually had CLD were compared with those who did not progress to CLD (active TGF-Beta 1, 39.5 vs 4.6 ng/ml; total TGF-Beta 1, 43.8 vs 13.8 ng/ml). In addition, immunocytochemistry studies localized pan-TGF-Beta to alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations indicate that TGF-Beta 1 may contribute to the fibrotic response that is observed in the lungs of infants who have CLD.
Kotecha
S
S
Department of Paediatrics, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, United Kingdom.
Wangoo
A
A
Silverman
M
M
Shaw
R J
RJ
D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000503:physiopathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis*
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta