title: Association of high levels of α-defensins and S100A proteins with Candida mannan detection in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of preterm neonates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Candida mannan (Mn) detection in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was shown to be useful for earlier identification and preemptive therapy targeting in preterm infants at high risk of invasive Candida infection. We investigated whether early detection of Candida Mn in BALF is associated with the presence of some neutrophilic products, as markers of prenatal infection/inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  BALF specimens were collected during the first 48 h of life from mechanically ventilated preterm newborns. Samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. The relative amounts of α-defensins 1-4 and S100A proteins were measured by extracted ion current peak area. Absolute and differential white cell counts in BALF were obtained. Mn antigen concentrations were determined by the Platelia Candida antigen kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five studied neonates were divided into two groups: Mn-positive group and Mn-negative group. Levels of α-defensins 1-4 and S100A12 were significantly higher in the Mn-positive group than in the Mn-negative group. Moreover, positive significant correlations between the absolute number of neutrophils and the levels of α-defensins 1-4 and S100A8 were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The detection of Mn antigen in BALF of preterm infants is consistent with evidence of an innate immune response in their lungs as demonstrated by higher levels of α-defensins and S100A proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. vento@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vento
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lio
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tirone
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aurilia
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tana
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piras
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perelli
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: Brunella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Posteraro
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iavarone
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cabras
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fanali
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Messana
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castagnola
mesh_terms: D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D023084:alpha-Defensins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009418:S100 Proteins; D023084:alpha-Defensins