title: Elevated matrilysin levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid do not distinguish idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis from other interstitial lung diseases.
abstract: Microarray studies have shown that matrilysin or matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7 is highly upregulated in the lungs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but MMP-7 protein expression has not been systematically compared between IPF and other interstitial lung diseases. MMP-7 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were compared to corresponding samples from nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), sarcoidosis, and healthy controls. MMP-7 levels in the BALF were determined by ELISA and localization of MMP-7 in the lung tissue by immunohistochemistry. MMP-7 was similarly elevated in the BALF of all these disorders compared to healthy controls (p=0.007). Even control subjects with prolonged cough displayed a tendency towards elevated MMP-7 expression. There was a negative correlation between BALF MMP-7 levels and forced expiratory vital capacity (r=-0.348, p=0.02, n=42). In IPF lung, MMP-7 immunoreactivity appeared predominantly in the fibrotic parenchyma and arterial wall. In sarcoidosis and NSIP, prominent MMP-7 immunoreactivity was found in areas of inflammation. These results demonstrate that elevated BALF MMP-7 is not restricted to IPF alone but is also observed in other interstitial lung diseases and cannot be used as a differential diagnostic marker for IPF.
authors: Department of Medicine and Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Kirsi
authors: K
authors: Vuorinen
authors: Marjukka
authors: M
authors: Myllärniemi
authors: Lauri
authors: L
authors: Lammi
authors: Päivi
authors: P
authors: Piirilä
authors: Paula
authors: P
authors: Rytilä
authors: Kaisa
authors: K
authors: Salmenkivi
authors: Vuokko L
authors: VL
authors: Kinnula
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000201:enzymology; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7