Low plasma levels of the protein pro-LL-37 as an early indication of severe disease in patients with chronic neutropenia

Br J Haematol. 2007 Apr;137(2):166-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2007.06530.x.

Abstract

Chronic neutropenia comprises several different diseases that vary in degree of severity and management. We analysed the levels of the neutrophil-derived protein pro-LL-37 in plasma of patients with chronic neutropenia to assess whether it could be used to differentiate different categories of chronic neutropenia. All patients with severe congenital neutropenia were pro-LL-37 deficient. This was in contrast to patients with autoimmune or idiopathic neutropenia, who exhibited normal pro-LL-37 levels while patients with cyclic neutropenia displayed an oscillation of pro-LL-37 in plasma. Plasma levels of pro-LL-37 may thus prove useful for differential diagnosis of chronic neutropenia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / blood*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / deficiency
  • Autoimmune Diseases / blood
  • Autoimmune Diseases / diagnosis
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Cathelicidins
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chronic Disease
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Leukocyte Elastase / genetics
  • Male
  • Mutation
  • Neutropenia / congenital
  • Neutropenia / etiology*
  • Neutropenia / genetics

Substances

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Biomarkers
  • Cathelicidins
  • Leukocyte Elastase