C. Delclaux et al., GELATINASES IN EPITHELIAL LINING FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH ADULT-RESPIRATORY-DISTRESS-SYNDROME, American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology, 16(3), 1997, pp. 442-451
Gelatinases A and B are matrix metalloproteinases secreted as inactive
pro forms and are capable of degrading basement membrane components a
fter activation in the extracellular environment. To determine whether
the presence of gelatinases A (noninflammatory cells) and B (inflamma
tory cells) in epithelial lining fluid (ELF) is associated with the ad
ult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), we studied 28 patients divid
ed into four groups based on the presence of ARDS and/or multiple orga
n failure (MOF). Gelatinase activities were quantified in ELF using zy
mography. ARDS patients had larger ELF volumes than non-ARDS patients:
9.2 +/- 8.5 ml/100 mi recovered lavage fluid (n = 18) vs. 1.9 +/- 1.7
ml/100 mi (n = 11), respectively (P < 0.001). The presence of activat
ed gelatinase A in ELF was a sensitive (16 out of 18 ARDS patients, 89
%) and specific (0 out of 11 non-ARDS patients with or without MOF) ma
rker for ARDS. Activated gelatinase (A + B) activities per microliter
ELF were correlated with albumin concentrations in ELF (P < 0.01), and
activated gelatinase activities in ELF were correlated with the volum
e of ELF (P < 0.0005). This could suggest an involvement of these gela
tinases in alveolar-capillary permeability increase.