Abstract
BackgroundCystic fibrosis (CF) is associated with bacterial pulmonary infections and neutrophil-dominated inflammation in the airways. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neutrophil-derived protein Heparin-binding protein (HBP) as a potential sputum marker of airway inflammation and bacterial load.MethodsNineteen CF patients, aged 6–18 years, were prospectively followed for 6 months with sputum sampling at every visit to the CF clinic. A total of 41 sputum samples were collected. Sputum-HBP was analysed with ELISA, neutrophil elastase activity with a chromogenic assay, and total bacterial load with RT-PCR of the 16 s rDNA gene. Data were compared to lung function parameters and airway symptoms.ResultsHBP and elastase correlated to a decrease in FEV1%predicted compared to the patients´ individual baseline pulmonary function (∆FEV1), but not to bacterial load. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values for the detection of > 10% decrease in ∆FEV1 were 0.80 for HBP, 0.78 for elastase, and 0.54 for bacterial load.ConclusionsSputum HBP is a promising marker of airway inflammation and pulmonary function in children with CF.
Highlights
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is associated with bacterial pulmonary infections and neutrophil-dominated inflammation in the airways
Several bacterial species cause airway infection in CF, for example Staphylococcus aureus, Non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NtHi), Burkholderia cepacia complex, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and it is well described that exacerbations contribute to the progressive lung destruction and pulmonary function decline that is a hallmark of CF [2, 3]
The aim of the present study was to evaluate if Heparin-binding protein (HBP) levels in sputum from children with CF can be used as a Hovold et al BMC Pulmonary Medicine (2018) 18:104 biomarker for pulmonary inflammation and bacterial load
Summary
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is associated with bacterial pulmonary infections and neutrophil-dominated inflammation in the airways. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is associated with persistent bacterial infection and neutrophil-dominated inflammation in the respiratory tract [1]. Many bacterial species show increasing resistance to antibiotics, and there is a need for robust biomarkers to monitor airway inflammation and infection. HBP was described as a useful biomarker in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid for the detection of pulmonary infection in lung transplant recipients [10]
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