lactoferrin and Respiratory-Tract-Diseases

Bronchopulmonary defense system protects the organism effectively against various inhaled material. This system, including mechanical, biochemical and immunological mechanisms, is reviewed.

Topics: alpha 1-Antitrypsin; Antibody Formation; Bacteria; Cilia; Complement System Proteins; Filtration; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; Interferons; Lactoferrin; Lymphokines; Macrophages; Mucous Membrane; Muramidase; Respiratory System; Respiratory Tract Diseases

The purpose of this study was to examine sex differences in oral-respiratory mucosal immunity and the incidence, severity and duration of upper respiratory symptoms (URS) episodes in endurance athletes during a 16-week winter training period. Blood was collected from 210 subjects (147 men and 63 women) at the start and end of the study for determination of differential leukocyte counts. Timed collections of unstimulated saliva were obtained at the start and at 4-week intervals during the study period. Saliva samples were analysed for salivary antimicrobial peptides and proteins (AMPs). Weekly training and daily illness logs were kept using validated questionnaires. Training loads averaged 11 h/week of moderate-vigorous physical activity and were not different for males and females. The salivary concentration of lysozyme and lactoferrin (both P < 0.04) but not salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA) or amylase were higher in males than females. Saliva flow rates were significantly higher in males than females (P < 0.03) and consequently so were the salivary secretion rates of lysozyme, lactoferrin and amylase (all P < 0.01) but not SIgA (P = 0.097). Total blood leukocyte, monocyte and lymphocyte counts were not different between the sexes but females had higher numbers of circulating neutrophils (P = 0.040). The average number of URS episodes was 0.6 +/- 0.8 (mean +/- SD) in males and 0.8 +/- 1.0 in females (P = 0.103) and the number of URS days was higher in females (4.7 vs 6.8 days, P < 0.02). The duration of URS episodes was longer in females (11.6 vs 15.5 days, P < 0.03). The findings of this study concur with recent reports of illness incidence at major competitive games indicating that female athletes may be more susceptible than their male counterparts to URS and that lower oral-respiratory mucosal immunity may, in part, account for this.

Topics: Amylases; Anthropometry; Athletes; Disease Resistance; Exercise; Female; Fever; Humans; Immunity, Mucosal; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; Incidence; Lactoferrin; Leukocyte Count; Male; Medical Records; Mouth; Muramidase; Musculoskeletal Pain; Physical Endurance; Respiratory System; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Saliva; Salivary Proteins and Peptides; Secretory Rate; Sex Characteristics; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult

Immunodiffusion assays were used to examine lactoferrin (LF) in the mixed saliva of 1026 patients and 553 apparently healthy individuals. Elevated salivary LF levels were found in respiratory and digestive diseases and diabetes. It is concluded that this non-invasive immunochemical assay is promising in the screening and monitoring of persons during their health examination.

Topics: Adult; Biomarkers; Diabetes Mellitus; Digestive System Diseases; Female; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Saliva; Young Adult

Analysis of the protein components of airway secretions is a potential means of detecting and characterizing biochemical alterations associated with airway diseases.. We evaluated airway protein secretions using the airway epithelial cell line Calu-3 grown at an air-liquid interface. To observe changes in apically secreted proteins, we analyzed the protein content of apical surface fluid (ASF) washings of Calu-3 monolayers treated with ion transport mediators.. Immunoassay screening for antibacterial and inflammatory proteins indicated the presence of measurable levels of lysozyme and IL-8 in Calu-3 ASF. RT-PCR and immunoassay studies indicated that Calu-3 cells do not produce clara cell 10 kDa protein (CC10). The total protein secretion of Calu-3 was not altered by bradykinin, but amiloride and adenosine significantly increased Calu-3 protein secretion. Lysozyme secretion was not altered by bradykinin, but amiloride and adenosine significantly reduced lysozyme secretion. IL-8 secretion was not altered by bradykinin or adenosine, but amiloride significantly decreased IL-8 secretion.. Our results demonstrate the presence of antibacterial protein lysozyme and the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 in Calu-3 ASF and that ion transport mediators such as bradykinin, amiloride and adenosine influence the secretion of Calu-3 ASF proteins.

Topics: Adenosine; Amiloride; Biological Transport, Active; Blotting, Western; Body Fluids; Bradykinin; Diuretics; Epithelial Cells; Humans; Immunoassay; Interleukin-8; Ions; Lactoferrin; Muramidase; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Vasodilator Agents

Bronchial secretions from 207 children suffering from various pulmonary diseases and from 15 healthy controls were tested concentration of IgA, IgG, lactoferrin and lysozyme. The results obtained suggest that in many cases of chronic lung diseases in children the levels of lactoferrin and immunoglobulins, especially secretory IgA, are very low. In severe infections (cystic fibrosis, bronchiectases) significant increase of IgG concentration was observed.

Topics: Adolescent; Bronchi; Bronchiectasis; Bronchitis; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Cystic Fibrosis; Humans; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; Immunoglobulin G; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Muramidase; Recurrence; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiratory Tract Infections

The concentration of immunoglobulins, lactoferrin and lysozyme we compared in bronchial secretions obtained from children with various chronic lung diseases. The IgG, lactoferrin and lysozyme, but not secretory IgA, concentrations were shown to be increased during chronic inflammatory response.

Topics: Adolescent; Bronchi; Bronchiectasis; Bronchitis; Bronchography; Bronchoscopy; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Cystic Fibrosis; Humans; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; Immunoglobulin G; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Muramidase; Respiratory Tract Diseases