Tremblay G M, Sallenave J M, Israél-Assayag E, Cormier Y, Gauldie J
Department of Pathology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1996 Oct;154(4 Pt 1):1092-8. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm.154.4.8887613.
Secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor (SLPI) and alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha1(PI)) cannot fully explain the total neutrophil elastase (NE) inhibitory capacity detected in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, suggesting the existence of other NE inhibitor(s). In the present study, we measured the concentrations of elafin, a newly described, low-molecular-weight serine proteinase inhibitor, SLPI, and alpha1(PI) in BAL fluids from eight healthy subjects, 13 asymptomatic farmers, seven farmers with active farmer's lung (FL), and seven farmers with previous (Ex) FL. In addition to SLPI and alpha1(PI), elafin was present in BAL fluids from control subjects and asymptomatic farmers, 13 (7-31) and 12 (7-67) mmol/mol of albumin (median and range) respectively. Elafin concentration increased significantly to 105 (38-207) mmol/mol of albumin in farmers with active FL and was also elevated in farmers with Ex FL. Elafin levels were highly correlated with lung inflammatory cell numbers, especially lymphocytes, and the decrease in single-breath diffusion capacity (DLCO). Elafin and SLPI were linked to yet uncharacterized proteins in BAL fluids. In conclusion, elafin is a constituent of BAL fluid from normal subjects and is found in enhanced concentrations in FL and in farmers with lymphocytic alveolitis. This suggests that elafin may play a role in lung homeostasis and inflammation.
分泌型白细胞蛋白酶抑制剂（SLPI）和α1-蛋白酶抑制剂（α1(PI)）不能完全解释在支气管肺泡灌洗（BAL）液中检测到的总中性粒细胞弹性蛋白酶（NE）抑制能力，这表明存在其他NE抑制剂。在本研究中，我们测量了8名健康受试者、13名无症状农民、7名患有活动性农民肺（FL）的农民以及7名既往有（Ex）FL的农民的BAL液中elafin（一种新描述的低分子量丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂）、SLPI和α1(PI)的浓度。除了SLPI和α1(PI)外，elafin也存在于对照组受试者和无症状农民的BAL液中，分别为13（7 - 31）和12（7 - 67）mmol/mol白蛋白（中位数和范围）。在患有活动性FL的农民中，elafin浓度显著增加至105（38 - 207）mmol/mol白蛋白，在既往有FL的农民中也有所升高。Elafin水平与肺部炎症细胞数量，尤其是淋巴细胞数量以及单次呼吸弥散能力（DLCO）的降低高度相关。Elafin和SLPI与BAL液中尚未鉴定的蛋白质有关。总之，elafin是正常受试者BAL液的一种成分，在FL患者和淋巴细胞性肺泡炎的农民中浓度升高。这表明elafin可能在肺内稳态和炎症中发挥作用。
