title: Serum-surfactant SP-D correlates inversely to lung function in cystic fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cystic fibrosis (CF) affects the lungs causing infections and inflammation. Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is an innate defense lectin primarily secreted in the lungs. We investigated the influence of the SP-D Met11Thr polymorphism on CF lung function; and serum SP-D as a marker for CF lung disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  For 107 CF patients (73 children, and 34 adults) serum SP-D and SP-D Met11Thr genotype were available. Leukocyte count was obtained for a subset of patients. Lung function was measured as forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV-1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum SP-D was increased in CF patients compared to healthy controls, positively correlated to leukocyte count, and negatively correlated to FEV-1. We found no correlation between SP-D Met11Thr genotype and FEV-1, and we found corresponding genotype frequencies in CF patients and in healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum SP-D in CF patients was increased in parallel with leukocyte count and with reduced FEV-1 and may constitute an alternative biomarker for lung disease, in the clinical setting and in research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, 8200 Arhus N, Denmark. hvo@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Hanne Vebert
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Olesen
authors.forename: Uffe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Holmskov
authors.forename: Peter Oluf
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Schiøtz
authors.forename: Grith Lykke
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Sørensen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D