Abstract
The pleural fluids and pleural biopsies of 21 patients have been investigated to delineate defense mechanisms of the pleural space. Lactoferrin (LF), an iron binding bacteriostatic protein, is known to be present in neutrophil leucocytes and almost all mucosal secretions. Using a radioimmunoassay for LF, exudative pleural effusions (protein > 3 G/%, LDH > 200IU) were found to contain 13.8 ± 19.1 μg/ml. Transudate effusions contained 1.4 ± 1.7 μg/ml, P <0.05. These levels are very similar to those previously found by us in inflammatory and non inflammatory joint fluids, and suggest a simple method of differentiating between the 2 types of pleural effusions. Immunofluorescent staining of parietal pleural biopsies failed to demonstrate LF; the LF in exudates is likely to originate from neutrophils. Immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in effusions were: in exudate effusions (17): IgG: 1.012 ± 434 mg%; IgM: 121 ± 163 mg%; IgA: 210 ± 81 mg%; IgE: 412 ± 1.013 ng/ml; in 4 transudate effusions: IgG: 561 ± 280 mg%; IgM: 70 ± 62 mg%; IgA: 85 ± 59 mg%; IgE: 83 ± 99 ng/ml. P values were: P <0.05 for IgG; and P <0.02 for IgA. The Ig levels in exudates are 45-75% of those found in simultaneous serum samples, and did not tend to be higher when the exudate was due to infection. Again, immunofluorescent staining failed to show any Igs in the parietal pleura of any patients. Pleural fluid Igs are likely to be derived passively from serum. One patient with lung adenocarcinoma had a high titre of free secretory component (SC), without a high IgA level, in the pleural exudate. The parietal pleura did not stain by immunofluorescence for SC which is believed to have originated from the tumor cells.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 74 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | American Review of Respiratory Disease |
| Volume | 113 |
| Issue number | 4 II |
| State | Published - 1976 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
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Lactoferrin and immunoglobulins of the pleural space. / Kohler, J.; Quartey, E.; Bennett, Robert (Rob); Gross, N.
In: American Review of Respiratory Disease, Vol. 113, No. 4 II, 1976, p. 74.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Lactoferrin and immunoglobulins of the pleural space
AU - Kohler, J.
AU - Quartey, E.
AU - Bennett, Robert (Rob)
AU - Gross, N.
PY - 1976
Y1 - 1976
N2 - The pleural fluids and pleural biopsies of 21 patients have been investigated to delineate defense mechanisms of the pleural space. Lactoferrin (LF), an iron binding bacteriostatic protein, is known to be present in neutrophil leucocytes and almost all mucosal secretions. Using a radioimmunoassay for LF, exudative pleural effusions (protein > 3 G/%, LDH > 200IU) were found to contain 13.8 ± 19.1 μg/ml. Transudate effusions contained 1.4 ± 1.7 μg/ml, P <0.05. These levels are very similar to those previously found by us in inflammatory and non inflammatory joint fluids, and suggest a simple method of differentiating between the 2 types of pleural effusions. Immunofluorescent staining of parietal pleural biopsies failed to demonstrate LF; the LF in exudates is likely to originate from neutrophils. Immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in effusions were: in exudate effusions (17): IgG: 1.012 ± 434 mg%; IgM: 121 ± 163 mg%; IgA: 210 ± 81 mg%; IgE: 412 ± 1.013 ng/ml; in 4 transudate effusions: IgG: 561 ± 280 mg%; IgM: 70 ± 62 mg%; IgA: 85 ± 59 mg%; IgE: 83 ± 99 ng/ml. P values were: P <0.05 for IgG; and P <0.02 for IgA. The Ig levels in exudates are 45-75% of those found in simultaneous serum samples, and did not tend to be higher when the exudate was due to infection. Again, immunofluorescent staining failed to show any Igs in the parietal pleura of any patients. Pleural fluid Igs are likely to be derived passively from serum. One patient with lung adenocarcinoma had a high titre of free secretory component (SC), without a high IgA level, in the pleural exudate. The parietal pleura did not stain by immunofluorescence for SC which is believed to have originated from the tumor cells.
AB - The pleural fluids and pleural biopsies of 21 patients have been investigated to delineate defense mechanisms of the pleural space. Lactoferrin (LF), an iron binding bacteriostatic protein, is known to be present in neutrophil leucocytes and almost all mucosal secretions. Using a radioimmunoassay for LF, exudative pleural effusions (protein > 3 G/%, LDH > 200IU) were found to contain 13.8 ± 19.1 μg/ml. Transudate effusions contained 1.4 ± 1.7 μg/ml, P <0.05. These levels are very similar to those previously found by us in inflammatory and non inflammatory joint fluids, and suggest a simple method of differentiating between the 2 types of pleural effusions. Immunofluorescent staining of parietal pleural biopsies failed to demonstrate LF; the LF in exudates is likely to originate from neutrophils. Immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in effusions were: in exudate effusions (17): IgG: 1.012 ± 434 mg%; IgM: 121 ± 163 mg%; IgA: 210 ± 81 mg%; IgE: 412 ± 1.013 ng/ml; in 4 transudate effusions: IgG: 561 ± 280 mg%; IgM: 70 ± 62 mg%; IgA: 85 ± 59 mg%; IgE: 83 ± 99 ng/ml. P values were: P <0.05 for IgG; and P <0.02 for IgA. The Ig levels in exudates are 45-75% of those found in simultaneous serum samples, and did not tend to be higher when the exudate was due to infection. Again, immunofluorescent staining failed to show any Igs in the parietal pleura of any patients. Pleural fluid Igs are likely to be derived passively from serum. One patient with lung adenocarcinoma had a high titre of free secretory component (SC), without a high IgA level, in the pleural exudate. The parietal pleura did not stain by immunofluorescence for SC which is believed to have originated from the tumor cells.
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M3 - Article
VL - 113
SP - 74
JO - American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
JF - American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
SN - 1073-449X
IS - 4 II
ER -