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Biomedical subjects

T R Martin

Publications and source records attributed to T R Martin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Cytokine balance in the lungs of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) involves an intense inflammatory response in the lungs, with accumulation of both pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Our goal was to determine how the balance between pro- and antiinflammatory mediators in the lungs changes before and after the onset of ARDS. We identified 23 patients at risk for ARDS and 46 with established ARDS and performed serial bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). We used immunoassays to measure tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and soluble TNF-alpha receptors I and II; interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-1 beta receptor antagonist, and soluble IL-1 receptor II; IL-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor; and IL-10. We used sensitive bioassays to measure net TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 activity. Although individual cytokines increased before and after onset of ARDS, greater increases occurred in cognate receptors and/or antagonists, so that molar ratios of agonists/antagonists declined dramatically at the onset of ARDS. The molar ratios remained low for 7 d or longer, limiting the activity of soluble IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha in the lungs at the onset of ARDS. This significant antiinflammatory response early in ARDS may provide a key mechanism for limiting the net inflammatory response in the lungs.

Adult↗

Early pulmonary infection, inflammation, and clinical outcomes in infants with cystic fibrosis.

A thorough understanding of the early natural history of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is critical for the development of effective interventions in the youngest patients. We assessed the evolution of pulmonary infection, inflammation, and clinical course among 40 infants over a 2-year period through annual bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for culture and measurements of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, semiannual infant pulmonary function testing, and quarterly clinical evaluations. Both the prevalence of CF pathogens and their density in BAL fluid increased with age. Infants had neutrophilic lower airway inflammation and elevated IL-8 concentrations independent of whether CF pathogens were recovered. Total leukocyte and neutrophil densities and IL-8 concentrations increased with density of CF pathogens in BAL fluid, whether the isolated organism was P. aeruginosa or another pathogen. IL-10 concentrations were similar in CF subjects and non-CF historical controls. Infants generally had suboptimal growth (low weight and height percentiles) and obstructive lung disease (decreased expiratory flows and air trapping). Subjects from whom CF pathogens were isolated at > 10(5) cfu/mL had the worst air trapping and lowest Brasfield chest X-ray scores. Our findings provide a foundation for future studies of early intervention in CF lung disease, including antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapy.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗

Fas (CD95) induces alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis in vivo: implications for acute pulmonary inflammation.

Activation of the Fas/FasL system induces apoptosis of susceptible cells, but may also lead to nuclear factor kappaB activation. Our goal was to determine whether local Fas activation produces acute lung injury by inducing alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis and by generating local inflammatory responses. Normal mice (C57BL/6) and mice deficient in Fas (lpr) were treated by intranasal instillation of the Fas-activating monoclonal antibody (mAb) Jo2 or an irrelevant control mAb, and studied 6 or 24 hours later using bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), histopathology, DNA nick-end-labeling assays, and electron microscopy. Normal mice treated with mAb Jo2 had significant increases in BAL protein at 6 hours, and BAL neutrophils at 24 hours, as compared to lpr mice and to mice treated with the irrelevant mAb. Neutrophil recruitment was preceded by increased mRNA expression for tumor necrosis factor-alpha, macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha, macrophage inflammatory protein-2, macrophage chemotactic protein-1, and interleukin-6, but not interferon-gamma, transforming growth factor-ss, RANTES, eotaxin, or IP-10. Lung sections from Jo2-treated normal mice showed neutrophilic infiltrates, alveolar septal thickening, hemorrhage, and terminal dUTP nick-end-labeling-positive cells in the alveolar septae and airspaces. Type II pneumocyte apoptosis was confirmed by electron microscopy. Fas activation in vivo results in acute alveolar epithelial injury and lung inflammation, and may be important in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury.

Acute Disease↗

Association of IL-8 and MCP-1 with the development of reexpansion pulmonary edema in rabbits.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to determine the relationships between the cytokines and the inflammatory response in reexpansion pulmonary edema (RPE). METHODS: We examined the cell population, epithelial permeability measured by Evans blue dye (EB), betaglucuronidase and cytokine concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and/or blood using a rabbit RPE model. RESULTS: We confirmed that RPE is characterized by recruitment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), the release of PMN granular contents into the air spaces, and increased vascular permeability. These findings were highly correlated with increased interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) concentrations in the BALF. Growth related oncogene (GRO) was detected in the BALF from only 2 of the 7 reexpanded lungs while TNFalpha was not detected in any rabbits. A similar but less severe inflammatory response to the reexpanded lung was found in the contralateral lung. CONCLUSIONS: IL-8 and MCP-1 may play important roles in the development of RPE; the inflammatory response is independent of TNFalpha and unilateral reexpansion of the lung induces an inflammatory response not only in the reexpanded lung but also in the contralateral lung.

Animals↗

Amniotic fluid lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and soluble CD14 as mediators of the inflammatory response in preterm labor.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the association of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and soluble CD14 (sCD14) with the proinflammatory response among women in preterm labor. The binding of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with LBP and sCD14 activates macrophages at LPS concentrations up to 1000 times lower than required with LPS alone. LBP and sCD14 in amniotic fluid could explain the high concentrations of cytokines present in the amniotic fluid of culture-positive women and the presence of cytokines in the amniotic fluid of culture-negative women. STUDY DESIGN: A cohort of 169 afebrile women in preterm labor with intact membranes had amniotic fluid collected by transabdominal amniocentesis for culture and for LBP, sCD14, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) determinations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IL-6 levels of >2 ng/mL were considered elevated. Statistical analyses included analysis of variance, multiple comparisons with Bonferroni correction, and linear regression. RESULTS: All 169 amniotic fluid samples had measurable LBP and sCD14. Subjects were categorized by amniotic fluid culture results and IL-6 concentration into 3 groups: (1) positive amniotic fluid culture, (2) negative amniotic fluid culture, elevated IL-6 concentration, and (3) negative amniotic fluid culture, low IL-6 level. Geometric mean LBP and sCD14 levels differed significantly among groups such that levels were approximately twice as high among pregnancies with positive amniotic fluid culture or elevated IL-6 compared with those without evidence of inflammation (both P <.001). sCD14 was inversely associated with enrollment gestational age independent of amniotic fluid culture results and IL-6 concentrations. Among culture negative, low IL-6 pregnancies, sCD14 decreased 3.5% for each additional week of gestation (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01%-6.4%; P =.02). LBP levels showed a similar trend in this group (P =.09). One hundred eleven subjects had detectable IL-6 levels. Among these subjects, IL-6 increased by 2.1-fold for every 10-fold increase in LBP (95% CI, 1.1-4.0; P =.02) and by 28.4-fold for every 10-fold increase in sCD14 (95% CI, 10.4-77.4; P <.001) with adjustment for gestational age by linear regression. CONCLUSIONS: LBP and sCD14 are present in amniotic fluid of preterm pregnancies and are linearly associated with amniotic fluid IL-6 concentrations. These molecules may amplify the cytokine response and thereby help explain the presence of cytokines in amniotic fluid when culturable quantities of microbes are absent.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Fas/Fas ligand system mediates epithelial injury, but not pulmonary host defenses, in response to inhaled bacteria.

The Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) system has been implicated in alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis during pulmonary fibrosis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, Fas ligation can also lead to cell activation and cytokine production. The goal of this study was to determine the role of the Fas/FasL system in host defenses against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. We administered bacteria by aerosolization into the lungs of Fas-deficient (lpr) mice and wild-type (C57BL/6) mice and measured bacterial clearance at 6 and 12 h. One hour prior to euthanasia, the mice received an intraperitoneal injection of human serum albumin (HSA) for alveolar permeability determinations. At all times after bacterial challenges, the lungs of the lpr mice contained similar or lower numbers of bacteria than those of the C57BL/6 mice. Alveolar permeability changes, as determined by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid HSA concentrations, were less severe in the lpr mice 6 h after the challenges. In response to E. coli, the lpr mice had significantly more polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 in the lungs, whereas histopathologic changes were less severe. In contrast, in response to the gram-positive cocci, the lpr animals had similar or lower numbers of PMN. We conclude that the Fas/FasL system contributes to the development of permeability changes and tissue injury during-gram negative bacterial pneumonia. The Fas/FasL system did not have a major role in the clearance of aerosolized bacteria from the lungs at the bacterial doses tested.

Animals↗

Recombinant human Fas ligand induces alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis and lung injury in rabbits.

This study investigated whether recombinant human soluble Fas ligand (rh-sFasL) induces apoptosis of primary type II pneumocytes in vitro and lung injury in vivo. Type II cells isolated from normal rabbit lung expressed Fas on their surface and became apoptotic after an 18-h incubation with rh-sFasL. Fas expression in normal rabbit lungs was localized by immunohistochemistry to alveolar and airway epithelia and alveolar macrophages. The administration of 10 microg of rh-sFasL into the right lungs of rabbits resulted 24 h later in both significantly more bronchoalveolar lavage fluid total protein and significantly more tissue changes compared with those in the left lungs, which received rh-sFasL plus Fas:Ig (a fusion protein that binds and blocks sFasL). Tissue changes included thickening of the alveolar walls, neutrophilic infiltrates, apoptotic (terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling-positive) cells in the alveolar walls, and increased expression of interleukin-8 by alveolar macrophages (as determined by immunohistochemistry). We conclude that the alveolar epithelium of normal rabbits expresses Fas and that sFasL induces lung injury and inflammation in rabbits.

Animals↗

Septic shock and acute lung injury in rabbits with peritonitis: failure of the neutrophil response to localized infection.

The major goal of this study was to investigate the mechanisms that link the host response to a local infection in the peritoneal cavity with the development of sepsis and lung injury. Rabbits were infected by intraperitoneal inoculation of fibrin clots containing Escherichia coli at 10(8), 10(9), or 10(10) cfu/clot. Physiologic, bacteriologic, and inflammatory responses were monitored, and the lungs were examined postmortem. At a dose of 10(8) cfu/clot the animals had resolving infection, and a dose of 10(9) cfu/clot resulted in persistent infection at 24 h, with minimal systemic manifestations. In contrast, inoculation of 10(10) cfu/clot resulted in rapidly lethal local infection, with septic shock and lung injury. The onset of septic shock was associated with a paradoxical lack of identifiable polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN; neutrophils) in the peritoneal cavity. The absence of PMN in the peritoneum was due in part to lysis of intraperitoneal PMN, because the peritoneal fluids contained free myeloperoxidase and induced rapid death of normal rabbit PMN in vitro. Although most animals became bacteremic, only those with a severe systemic inflammation response developed lung injury. These data show that control of an infection in the first compartment in which bacteria enter the host is a critical determinant of the systemic response. Above a threshold dose of bacteria, failure of the local neutrophil response is a key mechanism associated with deleterious systemic responses. Bacteremia alone is not sufficient to cause lung injury. Lung injury occurs only in the setting of a severe systemic inflammatory response and an inadequate leukocyte response at the primary site of infection.

Animals↗

Nitric oxide and nitrotyrosine in the lungs of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Nitric oxide (NO) end-products (nitrate and nitrite) are present in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of patients with inflammatory lung diseases. Reactive oxygen-nitrogen intermediates damage macromolecules by oxidation or nitration of critical residues in proteins. The goal of this study was to measure NO end-products (nitrate+ nitrite), in BAL fluid before and after the onset of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and to determine if these products are associated with expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase enzyme (iNOS) in BAL cells and nitration of BAL proteins. We performed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in patients at risk for ARDS (n = 19), or with ARDS (n = 41) on Days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 after onset, and measured total nitrite (after reducing nitrate to nitrite) and protein-associated nitrotyrosine concentration in each BAL fluid sample. Cytospin preparations of BAL cells were analyzed by immunocytochemistry for iNOS and nitrotyrosine. Nitrate+nitrite were detected in BAL fluid from patients at risk for ARDS, and for as long as 21 d after the onset of ARDS. Nitrotyrosine was detectable in all BAL fluid samples for as long as 14 d after the onset of ARDS (range, 38.8 to 278.5 pmol/mg of protein), but not in BAL of normal volunteers. Alveolar macrophages of patients with ARDS were positive for iNOS and nitrotyrosine, and remained positive for as long as 14 d after onset of ARDS. The BAL nitrate+nitrite did not predict the onset of ARDS, but the concentration was significantly higher on Days 3 and 7 of ARDS in patients who died. Thus, NO end products accumulate in the lungs before and after onset of ARDS; iNOS is expressed at high levels in AM during ARDS; and nitration of intracellular and extracellular proteins occurs in the lungs in ARDS. The data support the concept that NO-dependent pathways are important in the lungs of patients before and after the onset of ARDS.

Adult↗

Anti-interleukin 8 autoantibody: interleukin 8 complexes in the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Relationship between the complexes and clinical disease activity.

Increased levels of interleukin 8 (IL-8) are found in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids from patients with the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, IL-8 is not an efficient predictor of the course of ARDS. Our prior studies demonstrated that IL-8 present in lung fluids from patients with ARDS is associated with anti-IL-8 autoantibodies (anti-IL-8:IL-8 complexes). These data led us to hypothesize that the complexes might better predict the development of acute lung injury. Accordingly, we measured concentrations of free and complexed IL-8 in BAL fluids from 19 patients at risk and 45 with established ARDS on Days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 after the onset of ARDS. The concentrations of anti-IL-8:IL-8 complexes in patients with ARDS on Day 1 were significantly higher than in patients at risk (p < 0.05). There was a significant association between anti-IL-8:IL-8 complex concentrations and the onset of ARDS (p = 0.03). Similarly, anti-IL-8:IL-8 complex concentrations were significantly higher in patients on Day 1 of ARDS who later died (p < 0.05), and the association between high anti-IL-8: IL-8 complex concentrations and the probability of dying was significant (p = 0.03). The presence of anti-IL-8:IL-8 complexes in BAL fluids of patients with ARDS is an important prognostic indicator for the development and outcome of ARDS.

Adolescent↗

Hyporesponsiveness of donor cells to lipopolysaccharide stimulation reduces the severity of experimental idiopathic pneumonia syndrome: potential role for a gut-lung axis of inflammation.

Idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS) is a major complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We have shown that experimental IPS is associated with increased levels of LPS and TNF-alpha in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. We hypothesized that the deleterious effects of these inflammatory mediators in the lung may be linked to gut injury that develops after BMT. To test this hypothesis, we used mouse strains that differ in their sensitivity to LPS as donors in an experimental BMT model. Lethally irradiated C3FeB6F(1) hosts received BMT from either LPS-sensitive or LPS-resistant donors. Five weeks after BMT, LPS-resistant BMT recipients had significantly less lung injury compared with recipients of LPS-sensitive BMT. This effect was associated with reductions in TNF-alpha secretion (both in vitro and in vivo), BAL fluid LPS levels, and intestinal injury. The relationship between TNF-alpha, gut toxicity, and lung injury was examined further by direct cytokine blockade in vivo; systemic neutralization of TNF-alpha resulted in a significant reduction in gut histopathology, BAL fluid LPS levels, and pulmonary dysfunction compared with control-treated animals. We conclude that donor resistance to endotoxin reduces IPS in this model by decreasing the translocation of LPS across the intestinal border and systemic and pulmonary TNF-alpha production. These data demonstrate a potential etiologic link between gut and lung damage after BMT and suggest that methods that reduce inflammatory responses to LPS, and specifically, those that protect the integrity of the gut mucosa, may be effective in reducing IPS after BMT.

Animals↗

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha neutralization reduces lung injury after experimental allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS) is a frequent and potentially fatal complication of bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We have previously shown that experimental IPS is associated with increased levels of lipopolysaccaride (LPS) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and that administration of LPS to animals with extensive graft versus host exacerbated underlying lung injury (Blood 1996; 88: 3230). METHODS: Lethally irradiated CBA mice received BMT from allogeneic (B10.BR) or syngeneic (CBA) donors. The role of TNFalpha in the exacerbation of pulmonary toxicity caused by LPS injection and in the evolution of IPS after allogeneic BMT was examined by neutralizing TNFalpha after BMT using a soluble binding protein (rhTNFR:Fc). RESULTS: Five weeks after BMT, administration of rhTNFR:Fc dramatically reduced mortality and prevented the exacerbation of lung injury caused by LPS administration. This protective effect was associated with preservation of pulmonary function and with marked reductions of cells, neutrophils, and LPS in the BAL fluid of treated animals. TNFalpha neutralization from week 4 to 6 after allogeneic BMT effectively halted the progression of systemic GVHD and significantly reduced, but did not prevent lung injury that developed during the treatment period. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that TNFalpha is central to early LPS induced toxicity in this model and is a significant, but not the exclusive contributor to the development of IPS after allogeneic BMT.

Animals↗

Cholesterol decreases secretion of the secreted form of amyloid precursor protein by interfering with glycosylation in the protein secretory pathway.

Cerebral deposits of beta-amyloid (betaA) are a major feature in Alzheimer's disease. betaA is derived from amyloid precursor protein (APP). APP is subject to N- and O-glycosylation and undergoes a series of proteolytic cleavages that lead to the release of betaA or of a non-amyloidogenic secreted form of APP (APPs). We used primary neuronal and glial cultures to investigate how cholesterol affects the production and secretion of APPs. Exposure to cholesterol for 2 h did not change the neuronal release of APPs; after 6 h APPs release was slightly lower, whereas 24 h of exposure decreased APPs in the medium by approx. 60%. The time courses were similar in astrocytes and microglia preparations. To verify whether the effect of cholesterol was a consequence of membrane rigidification we tested the activity of ganglioside GM1 and prion protein fragment PrP 106-126, which affect membrane fluidity similarly to cholesterol, on APPs secretion. Neither altered the production of APPs. APP mRNA and the total amount of APP in the cells were slightly decreased by cholesterol after 2 and 24 h respectively. Immunoblot analysis of APP associated with neuronal cells and astrocytes indicated that cholesterol progressively decreased the glycosylated forms of the protein; a similar tendency was noted in cells treated with brefeldin A and monensin, two substances that interfere with protein glycosylation. The cell-surface biotinylation method showed that in cholesterol-treated cells APP reached the plasma membrane. Our results indicate that cholesterol decreases the secretion of APPs by interfering with APP maturation and inhibiting glycosylation of the protein; although APP is inserted in the membrane it is not cleaved by alpha-secretase.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗

Effect of CD14 blockade in rabbits with Escherichia coli pneumonia and sepsis.

CD14, a pattern recognition receptor found on myeloid cells, is a critical component of the innate immune system that mediates local and systemic host responses to Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial products. Previous studies in normal animals have tested the effect of CD14 blockade on the systemic response to i.v. LPS. The goals of the study were to determine whether CD14 blockade protected against the deleterious systemic response associated with Escherichia coli pneumonia and to determine whether this strategy affected the pulmonary response to tissue infection. Rabbits were pretreated with either anti-CD14 mAb or isotype control mAb at 2.5 mg/kg. E. coli (1 x 109 CFU) was inoculated into the lungs, and the animals were observed for either 4 or 24 h. The blockade of CD14 improved the mean arterial blood pressure (p = 0.001) and decreased the i.v. fluid requirements (p = 0.01). Although this therapy protected the vascular compartment, rabbits treated with anti-CD14 mAb had increased bacterial burdens in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid recovered from the instilled lung (p = 0.005) and widened alveolar-arterial oxygen difference. Blockade of CD14 prevents the deleterious systemic responses that occur in sepsis; however, other measures are necessary to control bacterial proliferation at the primary site of infection.

Animals↗

Inhibition of the tissue factor-thrombin pathway limits infarct size after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by reducing inflammation.

Functional inhibition of tissue factor (TF) has been shown to improve coronary blood flow after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. TF initiates the coagulation protease cascade, resulting in the generation of the serine protease thrombin and fibrin deposition. Thrombin can also contribute to an inflammatory response by activating various cell types, including vascular endothelial cells. We used a rabbit coronary ligation model to investigate the role of TF in acute myocardial I/R injury. At-risk areas of myocardium showed increased TF expression in the sarcolemma of cardiomyocytes, which was associated with a low level of extravascular fibrin deposition. Functional inhibition of TF activity with an anti-rabbit TF monoclonal antibody administered either 15 minutes before or 30 minutes after coronary ligation reduced infarct size by 61% (P = 0.004) and 44% (P = 0.014), respectively. Similarly, we found that inhibition of thrombin with hirudin reduced infarct size by 59% (P = 0.014). In contrast, defibrinogenating the rabbits with ancrod had no effect on infarct size, suggesting that fibrin deposition does not significantly contribute to infarct size. Functional inhibition of thrombin reduced chemokine expression and inhibition of either TF or thrombin reduced leukocyte infiltration. We propose that cardiomyocyte TF initiates extravascular thrombin generation, which enhances inflammation and injury during myocardial I/R.

Animals↗

Modulation of neutrophil apoptosis by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor during the course of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients either at risk for the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or with sustained ARDS modulates neutrophil apoptosis; to measure the BALF concentrations of the apoptosis inhibitors granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) before and after the onset of ARDS; and to determine whether the BALF concentrations of G-CSF and/or GM-CSF are associated with clinical outcome. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary university hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty patients at risk for ARDS and 45 patients with established ARDS. INTERVENTIONS: Patients at risk for ARDS underwent bronchoalveolar lavage within 24 hrs of being identified, then again 72 hrs later. Patients with ARDS underwent bronchoalveolar lavage within 24 hrs of meeting ARDS criteria, then again on days 3, 7, and 14 of the disease. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Normal peripheral blood neutrophil were incubated overnight in BALF from normal volunteers, from patients at risk for ARDS, or from patients with ARDS. neutrophil apoptosis was determined by flow cytometric analysis of annexin V binding. G-CSF and GM-CSF were measured in BALF by immunoassays. Compared with normal BALF, BALF from patients on days 1 and 3 of ARDS inhibited neutrophil apoptosis, but BALF from patients at later stages of ARDS, or from patients at risk for ARDS, did not. The BALF concentrations of both G-CSF and GM-CSF were elevated early in ARDS and decreased toward later stages. Patients who lived had significantly higher concentrations of GM-CSF in the BALF than those who died. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the antiapoptotic effect of ARDS BALF on normal neutrophil is highest during early ARDS, and decreases during late ARDS. G-CSF and GM-CSF are present in BALF from patients with ARDS, and their concentrations parallel the antiapoptotic effect of ARDS BALF. These data support the concept that the life-span of neutrophil in the air spaces is modulated during acute inflammation. GM-CSF in the air spaces is associated with improved survival in patients with ARDS.

Adolescent↗