title: Cathelicidin LL-37 in bronchoalveolar lavage and epithelial lining fluids from COPD patients and healthy individuals.
abstract: Innate immunity is currently under scope of interest concerning its role in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Antimicrobial peptides constitute a potent part of this fast response system. Here, we focus on the role of a specific antimicrobial peptide, the only human cathelicidin, the pleiotropic LL-37 peptide, in the development of COPD under clinical conditions. A cross-sectional study was conducted in groups of 43 patients with COPD (previously classified according to GOLD) and 12 healthy individuals. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) sampling, followed by LL-37 measurements by mass spectrometry combined with previous immunoaffinity purification, was performed. Based on urea levels, concentrations of LL-37 in epithelial lining fluid (ELF) were calculated. Additionally, an antimicrobial assay of growth inhibition of two bacterial species, often involved in COPD development mechanisms, by purchased LL-37 was conducted. Altogether, 55 BALF samples were analyzed. LL-37 levels were significantly higher in BALF from patients in early stages of COPD (GOLD I-II) compared to BALFs from healthy individuals. The same was true for ELF. Cathelicidins concentration was significantly lower in both BALF and ELF from patients in advanced COPD (GOLD III-IV). The significantly elevated LL-37 levels both in BALF and ELF in patients with COPD at stage GOLD I-II together with reduced levels in advanced (COPD stage III-IV) further supports the innate immunity involvement in COPD pathology and suggests a profound change in non-specific immunity during the disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Fibroproliferative Diseases, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland. msgolec@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Golec
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reichel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lemieszek
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mackiewicz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buczkowski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sitkowska
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Skòrska
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dutkiewicz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Milanowski
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ziesche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D054804:Cathelicidins