Components Of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Research Articles

Bronchoalveolar Lavage: The Report of an International Conference

The application of the method of bronchoalveolar lavage to an increasing array of pulmonary diseases was evident, and the use of sophisticated technology to study cells and measure minute amounts of protein and other components in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid indicated that more meaningful information may be gained about diseased airways and alveolar spaces than suspected. That new techniques are being developed to make assays more sensitive and specific was evident. The popularity of this research approach was underscored by the interest and participation of colleagues in the United States and especially in Europe (notably France, England, Italy, and West Germany) and in Japan. This meeting was an opportune time to reflect on what bronchoalveolar lavage analysis has contributed to date and to focus attention on new applications that will be forthcoming and will improve our understanding of immunopathogenic mechanisms in an expanding number of pulmonary diseases.

Analysis of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid from Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Hamsters

The purpose of this study was to analyze the cellular and noncellular components of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) at varying times during the development of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin. Hamsters were killed and lavaged in situ following the administration of a single intratracheal injection of 1 unit of bleomycin or an equivalent volume of sterile isotonic saline. The results show that the total cell counts in the BALF of bleomycin-treated hamsters, as compared with controls, were increased 7.7, 4.4, 2.4, 1.6, and 1.9-fold at 2, 4, 7, 14, and 21 days after treatment, respectively. The predominant cell types in the BALF of control animals were macrophages which constituted 84% of the total cells, followed by lymphocytes, 11%. The predominant cell types in the BALF of bleomycin-treated animals were polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) which constituted 65% at two days and approximately 50% of the total at 4, 7, and 14 days; at 21 days macrophages were the predominant cell type constituting 50%, followed by lymphocytes at 30%. However, the total number of lymphocytes was not increased at 21 days compared to previous times. The noncellular protein content of BALF from bleomycin-treated hamsters, an index of pulmonary vascular permeability, was increased to 224, 559, 637, and 270% of control (2.7 mg/lung) at 2, 4, 7, and 14 days after treatment, respectively, and returned to control levels at 21 days. The acid phosphatase activity in the supernatant of BALF of bleomycin-treated animals was significantly increased to 181, 181, 199, 176, and 125% of control (258 units/lung) at 2, 4, 7, 14, and 21 days, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte participation in acute oleic-acid-induced lung injury.

The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to analyze the cellular components of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid throughout the development of oleic-acid-induced lung injury in the rat and (2) to investigate the role of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in the pathogenesis of this disease. Animals were killed and lavaged at various times after a single intravenously administered injection of oleic acid. The results demonstrate that a significant influx of inflammatory cells appear in the lavage fluid as early as 4 h after the administration of oleic acid. The PMN are the first cells to appear, and significant levels persist through Day 5 after injection. There is a transient yet significant influx of lymphocytes between 3 and 7 days after treatment. Rats treated with oleic acid displayed significant increases in lung vascular permeability over control animals at 1 and 4 h after injection. Depletion of PMN by anti-PMN serum significantly decreased the permeability changes induced by oleic acid. Treatment of oleic-acid-injected animals with catalase, superoxide dismutase, or dimethyl sulfoxide failed to inhibit lung permeability changes induced in this model.

General practitioner to a football club.

Whilst alterations in surfactant components of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) have been described in a variety of pulmonary diseases in adults, no information is available on the surfactant composition in children beyond the neonatal period. In order to obtain reference values for the paediatric age group, we have studied phospholipid profiles of BALF in children without pulmonary disease. The study population consisted of 38 children aged 3-15 yrs (mean +/- SD 8 +/- 4 yrs) undergoing elective surgery for nonpulmonary illnesses. Surfactant composition was analysed by high pressure liquid chromatography using both an ultraviolet and a light-scattering detector. Total phospholipid concentration was higher in children under 8 yrs of age and decreased with age. In contrast, the total protein concentration remained constant throughout the age range. No age-related changes in the relative composition of phospholipid fractions could be observed. Surfactant protein A concentrations were highly variable in all age groups. This study provides the first data on surfactant components in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of healthy children and will be the basis for future studies of children with pulmonary diseases.