Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Label-free Neutrophil Enrichment from Patient-derived Airway Secretion Using Closed-loop Inertial Microfluidics
Published on: June 7, 2018
Neutrophil elastase and interleukin-8 as inflammatory mediators in mechanically ventilated children
Bozena Polańska1, Danuta Sidor, Iwona Leszczyk-Kapusta
1Department of Pediatric Propedeutics and Clinic of Child Immunology, Medical University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland. bozenamd@poczta.onet.pl
Background:
Neutrophil elastase is a proteolytic enzyme which can have a destructive effect on respiratory tract structures. Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a proinflammatory cytokine, is an important chemoattractant for neutrophils. The aim of our study was to assess inflammatory states by determining elastase in complex with alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (E-alpha1PI) and IL-8 in children requiring mechanical ventilation.
Material/Methods:
Plasma and respiratory tract lavage fluid (RTLF) levels of E-a1PI and IL-8 were measured (ELISA) in 31 children with (group I) and 22 without (group II) respiratory tract infection. Plasma results were compared with a group of healthy controls. Results are given as medians and ranges. Additionally, the percentage content of neutrophils in RTLF was determined.
Results:
Significantly higher (p<0.00004) plasma levels of E-alpha1PI were found in group I than in group II. In group II, there were significantly higher (p<0.002) RTLF levels of E-alpha1PI and IL-8 than in group I. In both groups, the percentage content of neutrophils in RTLF exceeded 60%. A negative correlation was found between the plasma and RTLF levels of E-alpha1PI (r=-0.69; p<0.0004), between E-alpha1PI and percentage neutrophil content (r=-0.6; p<0.006), and between IL-8 and percentage neutrophil content (r=-0.5; p<0.04) in RTLF in group II.
Conclusions:
The determination of E-alpha1PI and IL-8 may be useful in the assessment of the inflammatory state in children requiring mechanical ventilation.
