A macrophage-suppressing 40-kD protein in a case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis

• Published in: Klinische Wochenschrift Vol. 65; no. 19; pp. 893 - 897
• Main Authors: Müller-Quernheim, J, Schopf, R E, Benes, P, Schulz, V, Ferlinz, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01-10-1987
• Subjects: Adult; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - analysis; Energy Metabolism; Humans; Luminescent Measurements; Macrophage Activation; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors - physiology; Macrophages - immunology; Male; Molecular Weight; Opportunistic Infections - immunology; Phagocytosis; Proteins - physiology; Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis - immunology; Pulmonary Alveoli - immunology
• ISSN: 0023-2173; 1432-1440
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01745499

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disease of unknown etiology. Macrophage dysfunctions are claimed to be involved in the pathogenesis. We investigated phagocytosis and oxidative metabolism of alveolar macrophages in a case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. These cells phagocytize normally and phagocytizable stimulants cause a normal oxidative burst. In response to the membrane signals phorbolmyristate acetate and aggregated immunoglobulin, however, no stimulated turnover of the oxidative metabolism can be observed. A 40-kD protein found in the lavage fluid mediates this macrophage-inhibiting effect. This phenomenon may contribute to the frequent opportunistic infections seen in PAP patients. It can be concluded from our data that the high frequency of infections with opportunistic species in these patients can be reduced by therapeutic bronchoalveolar lavage. By this procedure the abnormal macrophage-suppressing protein can be washed out of the lung at an early stage of the disease.