title: Correlation of levels of alpha-defensins determined by HPLC-ESI-MS in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with the diagnosis of pneumonia in premature neonates.
abstract: The presence of alpha-defensins in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was investigated in a cohort of preterm newborns with gestational age (GA) < or =30 wk. Specimens were collected during the first week of life from 24 preterm neonates mechanically ventilated. The studied population was divided into two groups: pneumonia group of nine neonates suffering from pulmonary infection (GA: 26.1 +/- 2.1 wk; birth weight: 787.4 +/- 309.9 g), with or without associated bloodstream infection, and nonpneumonia group of 15 neonates (GA: 27.7 +/- 2.0 wk; birth weight: 1019.0 +/- 319.8 g). BALF culture was positive for CONS (n = 5), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 1), and Candida spp (n = 3). BALF samples were analyzed by HPLC-electrospray Ionization-mass spectrometer. The alpha-defensins 1-4 concentration, absolute and differential white cells count were measured. Relative amounts of alpha-defensins 1-4 and the absolute number of neutrophils were found significantly higher in the pneumonia group with respect to the nonpneumonia group (p < 0.05). Moreover, positive significant correlations between the number of neutrophils and the alpha-defensins 1-3 levels were observed. In conclusion, our data show that preterm newborns, also at the lower GA, are able to produce alpha-defensins, underlining that their innate defense system is already active before the at-term delivery date.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Università Cattolica S. Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tirone
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boccacci
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inzitari
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tana
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aurilia
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fanali
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cabras
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Messana
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castagnola
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vento
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D023084:alpha-Defensins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D023084:alpha-Defensins