title: Elevated levels of leukotriene B4 and leukotriene E4 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with scleroderma lung disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The leukotrienes are a family of arachidonic acid-derived lipid mediators with proinflammatory and profibrotic properties. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) and LTE(4) in the pathogenesis of scleroderma lung disease (SLD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with SLD, 11 SSc patients without SLD, and 10 healthy controls were studied. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was obtained during routine bronchoscopy of the right middle lobe in all study subjects. Levels of LTB(4) and LTE(4) were measured using enzyme immunoassay kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of LTB(4) and LTE(4) were significantly higher in SSc patients with SLD (251 +/- 170 pg/ml and 479 +/- 301 pg/ml, respectively), than those in patients without SLD (114 +/- 86 and 159 +/- 149 pg/ml) and those in normal controls (86 +/- 49 and 110 +/- 67 pg/ml). In the total group of patients with SSc, levels of both leukotrienes correlated positively with the total number of cells in the BAL fluid and correlated negatively with the forced vital capacity. After intravenous pulse therapy with cyclophosphamide in 6 patients, there was a significant reduction in the concentration of LTB(4) (from 380 +/- 196 pg/ml to 155 +/- 123 pg/ml) but no significant difference in the levels of LTE(4) (from 697 +/- 325 pg/ml to 418 +/- 140 pg/ml).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show that LTB(4) and LTE(4) levels are elevated in SSc patients with SLD and correlate with parameters of inflammation in the lungs. These results indicate that leukotrienes may contribute to the pathogenesis of SLD and may represent a new therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Medical Academy of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Otylia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kowal-Bielecka
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Distler
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kowal
authors.forename: Zenon
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Siergiejko
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chwiećko
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sulik
authors.forename: Renate E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: Anna Bodzenta
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Łukaszyk
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sierakowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D017999:Leukotriene E4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D017999:Leukotriene E4; D003520:Cyclophosphamide