Liver-type fatty acid binding protein in serum and broncho-alveolar lavage in a model of acute respiratory failure because of surfactant depletion--a possible marker for lung damage?
BACKGROUND
Liver-type fatty acid binding proteins (L-FABP) have been shown to be present in alveolar macrophages and type II pneumocytes of the lung. This study determined levels of L-FABP in serum and broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) during experimental acute respiratory failure (ARF) to evaluate whether this molecule can serve as a marker for lung damage.


METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24) were ventilated and either lung lavaged or lavaged and treated with surfactant, and compared to ventilated, non-lavaged controls. Blood samples were drawn every hour for 4 h to measure L-FABP concentrations in serum. At the end of the experiment a BAL was performed to determine L-FABP levels in BAL fluid. L-FABP was measured with a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.


RESULTS
Serum L-FABP concentrations rose significantly during the first 2 h of ventilation in all groups compared with baseline values. After 2 h L-FABP levels were significantly higher in lavaged animals compared with the ventilated controls and to animals treated with surfactant. After 4 h of ventilation, L-FABP in BAL was significantly higher in lavaged, non-surfactant treated animals compared with the ventilated controls.


CONCLUSIONS
In the early phase of experimental ARF serum L-FABP levels correlate well with the degree of lung injury.
Lachmann
R A
RA
Department of Anesthesiology, Erasmus MC-Faculty, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Werchan
S
S
Schachtrup
C
C
Haitsma
J J
JJ
Spener
F
F
Lachmann
B
B
D000208:Acute Disease; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects*; D008170:Lung Compliance / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D010100:Oxygen