INTERRELATIONS BETWEEN NEUTRO PHIL ENZYMES AND THEIR INHIBITORS IN PATHOGENESIS OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME ASSOCIATED WITH INFLUENZA PNEUMONIA

Abstract

Abstract. Amounts of several neutrophil enzymes (elastase, myeloperoxidase (MPO), MMP-2) and their local inhibitors, i.e., Clara cell protein (CC16) and HSP-70, have been determined in blood plasma from fifty-two patients with various forms of influenza A/H1N1. Sixteen patients have developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In cases of uncomplicated influenza, elastase and MPO levels were shown to be increased, while MMP-2 levels did not change, along with higher contents of HSP-70 and unchanged CC16 amounts. Upon development of influenza-associated pneumonia, elastase and MPO concentrations became elevated, whereas MMP-2 levels were decreased, along with unchanged amounts of CC16 and HSP-70. In cases of ARDS development, CC16 amounts exhibited a sharp decrease. Meanwhile, contents of other proteins remained at the levels shown for pneumonia patients. It has been shown that increased concentrations of neutrophil elastase and MPO with a relative CC16 deficiency and decreased MMP-2 may represent a mechanism of pneumonia development. Decreased CC16 concentration may serve as a risk predictor of ARDS development.

Keywords

• neutrophil enzymes
• clara cell protein
• hsp-70
• acute respiratory distress syndrome
• influenza a/h1n1