Chitotriosidase analysis in bronchoalveolar lavage of patients with sarcoidosis.
BACKGROUND
Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease characterised by T-helper cell/macrophage alveolitis. Activated macrophages release mediators, such as cytokines, chemokines, oxygen radicals, and enzymes. In a previous paper we found higher levels of chitotriosidase, a macrophage derived enzyme, in serum of patients with sarcoidosis than in controls. Serum chitotriosidase levels were correlated with sarcoidosis radiological stages. Human chitotriosidase is involved in the pathogenesis of many lysosomal storage disorders and is selectively expressed in chronically activated tissue macrophages.


METHODS
In the present study we determined chitotriosidase concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage of patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary sarcoidosis (divided into two groups according to clinical parameters) and of controls with an ELISA test.


RESULTS
Significantly different chitotriosidase concentrations were found in BAL of patients than controls, especially in patients with progressing disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Chitotriosidase but not angiotensin converting enzyme concentrations correlated with sarcoidosis radiological stages, and also with the degree of lung infiltrate seen by CT-scan, suggesting that the former enzyme (detected locally and sistemically) may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Further studies with a greater number of patients are needed to confirm this hypothesis and to determine whether chitotriosidase may be a marker of the severity of sarcoidosis.
Bargagli
Elena
E
Respiratory Diseases Section, Department of Clinical Medicine and Immunology, Le Scotte Hospital, Viale Bracci 53100-Siena, Italy. bargagli2@unisi.it
Margollicci
Maria
M
Perrone
Anna
A
Luddi
Alice
A
Perari
Maria Grazia
MG
Bianchi
Nicola
N
Refini
Rosa Metella
RM
Grosso
Salvatore
S
Volterrani
Luca
L
Rottoli
Paola
P
D000328:Adult; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D005260:Female; D006596:Hexosaminidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism
D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D006596:Hexosaminidases; C086400:chitotriosidase; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A