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Published on: February 14, 2019

Exhaled breath condensate MMP-9 levels in children with bronchiectasis

Gulbin Bingol Karakoc1, Ayfer Inal, Mustafa Yilmaz

  • 1Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cukurova, Adana, Turkey. gulbin2@yahoo.com

Pediatric Pulmonology
|September 3, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels in exhaled breath condensate are elevated in children with bronchiectasis (BE), correlating with disease severity. This suggests MMP-9 may serve as a useful biomarker for airway injury in pediatric BE.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Biochemistry
  • Medical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Bronchiectasis (BE) is a significant cause of chronic suppurative respiratory disease, particularly in developing nations.
  • Neutrophil proteases, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), are implicated in airway damage in chronic lung conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) levels in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of children with BE.
  • To investigate the relationship between EBC MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels, radiological findings, and pulmonary function in pediatric BE patients.

Main Methods:

  • EBC samples were collected from children with cystic fibrosis BE (Group 1), non-cystic fibrosis BE (Group 2), and healthy controls (Group 3).
  • High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scores were used to quantify BE extent.
  • Pulmonary function tests were conducted, and MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels in EBC were measured using ELISA.

Main Results:

  • EBC MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in both CF BE and non-CF BE groups compared to controls.
  • No significant difference in TIMP-1 levels was observed across the groups.
  • EBC MMP-9 levels showed an inverse correlation with pulmonary function and a positive correlation with HRCT scores and annual infection rates.

Conclusions:

  • Children with BE, both CF and non-CF, exhibit elevated MMP-9 levels in their exhaled breath condensate.
  • EBC MMP-9 may represent a valuable non-invasive biomarker for assessing airway injury in pediatric bronchiectasis.
  • Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm the utility of EBC MMP-9 in managing BE.

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