KL-6, surfactant protein A and D in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.
BACKGROUND
KL-6, and surfactant protein A (SP-A) and surfactant protein D (SP-D) derived from alveolar type II cells and/or bronchiolar epithelial cells have been reported to be useful markers for interstitial lung diseases.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to measure the levels of these molecules in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis to investigate their relationship with other markers of inflammatory activity.


METHODS
We measured KL-6, SP-A and SP-D levels in BALF from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis using an ELISA.


RESULTS
KL-6 and SP-D, but not SP-A levels were significantly increased in pulmonary sarcoidosis compared with controls. KL-6, SP-A and SP-D levels were significantly correlated with each other. KL-6 and SP-D levels were relatively and significantly correlated with the percentage of lymphocytes in BALF. KL-6, SP-D, but not SP-A levels were significantly correlated with the concentration of albumin in BALF. There was no significant correlation between KL-6, SP-A, or SP-D levels and chest X-ray findings, angiotensin-converting enzyme levels, or CD4/CD8 ratio in BALF.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that KL-6 and SP-D levels in BALF were increased in pulmonary sarcoidosis. Since these markers are specifically derived from epithelial cells, it is considered that KL-6 and SP-D levels are reflecting damage or release of these markers from epithelial cells due to the inflammatory response.
Kunitake
R
R
Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Kuwano
K
K
Yoshida
K
K
Maeyama
T
T
Kawasaki
M
M
Hagimoto
N
N
Hara
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000941:Antigens; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins; D011510:Proteolipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000378:metabolism*; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D000941:Antigens; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers; D006023:Glycoproteins; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins; D011510:Proteolipids; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants