title: Flagellin concentrations in expectorations from cystic fibrosis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to measure flagellin concentrations in the expectorations of CF patients and to examine whether there are correlations with the level of respiratory insufficiency and inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sputum samples from 31 adult patients chronically colonized with P. aeruginosa were collected and analysed for their content of flagellin and IL-8. Clinical data were extracted from patient files.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regardless of whether patients are colonized with mucoid strains or not, they carry clones of P. aeruginosa that express flagellin. While flagellin was present in airways of all of our CF patients, it is difficult to ascertain its contribution to inflammation (IL-8) and lung function deterioration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first demonstration that flagellin is present in the sputum of patients. Thus, attempts to down regulate inflammation by the use of TLR5 (flagellin receptor) antagonists remain a possibility. However, this result needs to be extended to a larger number of patients to validate it for future research on this subject.
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Balloy
authors.forename: Guiti
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thévenot
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bienvenu
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morand
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Corvol
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.forename: Reuben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramphal
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hubert
authors.affiliation: Unité de Défense innée et Inflammation, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. chignard@pasteur.fr.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chignard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005408:Flagellin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013183:Sputum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016209:Interleukin-8; D005408:Flagellin