Proteomic analysis of inflammatory biomarkers in bronchoalveolar lavage

To assess markers of lung inflammation, we used SELDI-TOF and 2-DE to study changes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) protein in 33 subjects challenged with local bronchial lung endotoxin and saline and in 11 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Differences in the SELDI-TOF spectra were assessed by t-test after baseline subtraction, normalization to total ion current and alignment by m/z calibration. The temporal changes in acute inflammatory BAL (6, 24 and 48 h following endotoxin challenge) on hydrophobic binding chip surfaces revealed the differential presence of proteins of 9, 14, 18 and 28 kDa (all p < 0.001) in the inflammatory BAL. This differential pattern was also found in the ARDS BAL. Principal component analysis of the entire SELDI-TOF spectra separated normal BAL, experimental and clinical lung inflammation supporting the notion of a distinctive protein pattern associated with acute lung inflammation. An analysis of the hydrophobic fraction of the inflammatory BAL using 2-DE, identified increased levels of apolipoprotein A1, and S100 calcium-binding proteins A8 and A9 in the inflammatory BAL. This pattern was also found in ARDS BAL after immunoblot analysis. These approaches will be useful to improve current methods of monitoring lung inflammation and to identify new therapeutic targets.