title: Elevated levels of alpha-defensins in plasma and BAL fluid of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of neutrophil peptides named alpha-defensins in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven patients with TB and 25 healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concentrations of alpha-defensins (human neutrophil peptide [HNP]-1, HNP-2, and HNP-3) were measured by radioimmunoassay in plasma and BAL fluid (BALF). Concentrations of alpha-defensins were significantly higher in plasma and BALF of patients with TB than in healthy subjects. In BALF of patients with TB, the concentration of alpha-defensins correlated positively with the levels of interleukin 8, and higher concentrations of alpha-defensins in BALF were also detected in patients with cavitary lesions. There was an inverse relationship between plasma alpha-defensins and FEV(1)/FVC ratio before treatment, and between plasma concentrations of alpha-defensins before treatment and the improvement in percentage of vital capacity after treatment. Plasma alpha-defensin concentrations returned to the normal range after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that alpha-defensins released from neutrophils may play an important role in the pathogenesis of TB, and that plasma alpha-defensin concentration may be a useful marker of disease severity and deterioration of pulmonary function.
authors.affiliation: National Sanatorium Miyazakihigashi Hospital, Miyazaki Medical College, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun-ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ashitani
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mukae
authors.forename: Takeaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hiratsuka
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.forename: Kenshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumamoto
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsukura
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014797:Vital Capacity; D023084:alpha-Defensins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016209:Interleukin-8; D023084:alpha-Defensins