Anti-elastase antibodies and neutrophil elastase in children with respiratory tract inflammation

Abstract


The neutrophil elastase is implicated in tissue damage occurring in the course of several chronic inflammatory conditions.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of antibodies to neutrophil elastase (aE) in serum and plasma levels of neutrophil elastase complexed with a1-proteinase inhibitor (E-α₁PI ). Subjects were 1-16 years old children suffering from recurrent upper respiratory tract infection (A, n=35), mild atopic asthma (Ba, n=23), recurrent bronchitis without obstruction (Bb, n=27) and 13 healthy controls (C). Parameters were measured (ELISA technique) in the acute phase of the disease (I), and in the stage without signs of disease (II). There was no significant difference in serum values of aE in children from A, Ba and Bb group compared to controls. But in individual cases levels of antibodies were positive. We observed significant elevation of E-α₁PI levels in plasma of children from A and Ba groups. We found significant negative correlation between E-α1 PI and aE in examination I and II in children from group A, and in examination II in children from Bb group. Our data suggest that aE may be present in serum of children with respiratory tract infections and E-α₁PI may be an useful indicator of neutrophils activation.