Decline in FEV(1) in community-based older volunteers with higher levels of neutrophil elastase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
BACKGROUND
Neutrophil elastase (NE) is thought to be one of the key proteinases in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Previously, we have shown that the NE-alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (NE-alpha1PI) complex in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was markedly elevated in asymptomatic smokers who had subclinical emphysema on CT scans. We proposed that excessive NE-alpha1PI complex in BAL fluid was a factor which might differentiate smokers who were developing emphysema from others.


OBJECTIVE
In this study, we addressed the question of whether elevated levels of the NE-alpha1PI complex in BAL fluid are linked to the accelerated decline in pulmonary functions in those subjects.


METHODS
We conducted a follow-up study to analyze the decline in FEV(1) for 4.3 years on average for 26 community-based volunteers who had received pulmonary function tests, CT scans and BAL. The levels of the NE-alpha1PI complex in BAL fluid and in plasma was measured.


RESULTS
Neither pulmonary function measurements nor the presence of emphysema on CT scans could predict the decline in FEV(1). The number of inflammatory cells in BAL fluid was also not an indicator of progression. By contrast, subjects with higher levels of the NE-alpha1PI complex in BAL fluid had a significantly accelerated decline in FEV(1) compared to those with lower levels.


CONCLUSIONS
These data seem to support the hypothesis that NE in the lung is related to the onset and/or progression of COPD.
Betsuyaku
T
T
First Department of Medicine, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. tbetsuya@pulmonary.wustl.edu
Nishimura
M
M
Takeyabu
K
K
Tanino
M
M
Miyamoto
K
K
Kawakami
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019272:Leukocyte Elastase