Neutrophil mediators, Pseudomonas, and pulmonary dysfunction in cystic fibrosis

KC Meyer, J Zimmerman - The Journal of laboratory and …, 1993 - translationalres.com
Proteolytic enzymes derived from inflammatory cells or Pseudomonas aeruginosa may
destroy lung matrix in cystic fibrosis (CF). Antielastases appear to be overwhelmed by large
amounts of free neutrophil elastase (NE) activity in lower respiratory tract secretions, and
proteolytic or oxidant stress is thought to account for such deficiency. The purpose of this
study was to measure NE and myeloperoxidase activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
(BAL) from patients with CF and to correlate levels of these mediators with the degree of …