Exhaled breath condensate: a promising source for biomarkers of lung disease.
Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) has been increasingly studied as a noninvasive research method for sampling the alveolar and airway space and is recognized as a promising source of biomarkers of lung diseases. Substances measured in EBC include oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators, such as arachidonic acid derivatives, reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, reduced and oxidized glutathione, and inflammatory cytokines. Although EBC has great potential as a source of biomarkers in many lung diseases, the low concentrations of compounds within the EBC present challenges in sample collection and analysis. Although EBC is viewed as a noninvasive method for sampling airway lining fluid (ALF), validation is necessary to confirm that EBC truly represents the ALF. Likewise, a dilution factor for the EBC is needed in order to compare across subjects and determine changes in the ALF. The aims of this paper are to address the characteristics of EBC; strategies to standardize EBC sample collection and review available analytical techniques for EBC analysis.
Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University and Emory+Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Center for Developmental Lung Biology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Yan
Y
Liang
Samantha M
SM
Yeligar
Lou Ann S
LA
Brown
D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D012634:Bodily Secretions / Q000378:metabolism; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods*; D003124:Colorimetry; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D045853:Exhalation; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007118:Immunoassay; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000032:analysis; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D005978:Glutathione