PRESENCE OF BACTERICIDAL PERMEABILITY-INCREASING PROTEIN IN DISEASE -DETECTION BY ELISA

A sandwich ELISA was developed specific for human bactericidal/permeab ility-increasing protein (BPI), using Mg++ ions to abrogate disturbanc e by lipopolysaccharide of BPI measurement and to prevent aspecific ad herence of BPI to solid phase. In fresh EDTA or heparinized plasma of healthy volunteers BPI was not detectable, whereas in serum BPI was pr esent, indicating that coagulation activates polymorphonuclear leukocy tes to release BPI. Furthermore, BPI was present in plasma of critical ly ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients, in bronchoalveolar lavage f luid of patients suspected of having pneumonia, in wound fluid, and in pleural fluid. In subgroups of samples with culture-proven bacteria, mean BPI levels were increased compared with subgroups without bacteri a, although the differences were only significant in EDTA plasma of IC U patients. These findings indicate the presence of BPI during patholo gic conditions. The physiologic role of the released BPI has to be fur ther elucidated.