Abstract
The pleural space is a virtual compartment between the lung and chest wall that
becomes filled with fluid and inflammatory cells during a variety of respiratory
diseases. Here, we study the potential role of the eicosanoid metabolite
leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in disparate diseases leading to acute (pneumonia) or
chronic (tuberculosis, cancer) inflammation of the pleural space. LTB4
concentrations were significantly higher in pleural fluid due to pneumonia,
tuberculosis and cancer with respect to congestive heart failure and correlated
with neutrophil elastase, which is used as an indication of state of activation
of neutrophils in the pleural space. Moreover, pleural LTB4 was biologically
active, as an anti-LTB4 antibody partially neutralized the chemotactic activity
of parapneumonic, tuberculous and cancer effusions. Macrophages, neutrophils,
lymphocytes, mesothelial cells and cancer cells all expressed mRNA for
5-lipoxygenase, the enzyme that initiates leukotriene synthesis leading to the
production of LTB4, in exudative pleural effusions. Upon stimulation in
transudative pleural effusions, pleural macrophages produced, in a time-dependent
fashion, a significantly higher concentration of LTB4 than mesothelial cells.
These studies demonstrate that different cell types are capable of producing LTB4
in the inflamed pleural space and that this mediator may play a crucial role in
the recruitment of neutrophils into the pleural space.
Lingua originale | English |
---|---|
pagine (da-a) | 519-527 |
Numero di pagine | 9 |
Rivista | Clinical and Experimental Immunology |
Volume | 135 |
Stato di pubblicazione | Published - 2004 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- ???subjectarea.asjc.2700.2723???
- ???subjectarea.asjc.2400.2403???