Abstract
PTHrP is expressed in a variety of normal and malignant tissues, including fetal bronchiolar epithelium in a gestationally-dependent manner. PTHrP stimulates phosphatidylcholine synthesis in rat fetal lung explants, and increases the number of lamellar bodies per adult rat alveolar type II cell. Thus PTHrP may play a role in fetal type II alveolar cell maturation and surfactant production. There are currently no studies on PTHrP levels in tracheal aspirates (TAs) of intubated human newborns. Methods We collected TAs from 39 intubated NICU patients within the first 48 hours of life. TAs were collected in a mucus trap and kept frozen prior to analysis. PTHrP was measured by a radioimmunoassay using rabbit antisera to PTHrP 38-64. Total protein (TP) was measured by the Coomassie Blue method. Results Population statistics: average gestational age (GA), 32.2 weeks; average birthweight (BW), 2069 g; and male/female, 17/22. Using the Mann-Whitney test for nonparametric data, differences in PTHrP/TP levels were statistically significant for GA, BW, RDS and gender (<33 weeks gestation)(table). No differences were noted for maternal steroids and diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension or bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Conclusion/Speculation PTHrP correlates with and may modulate fetal/neonatal lung maturation.
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