Acute-Phase Reactants in Experimental Inhalation Lung Disease

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Abstract
An investigation on the occurrence and role of acute-phase reactants in experimental inhalation lung disease (ILD) was undertaken. Using an experimental model of ILD in which rabbits were exposed to aerosols of appropriate fungal spores, haptoglobin analysis was compared with depressions in arterial O2 tension (PaO2) with time following challenge. Haptoglobin values of rabbits exposed to single 30-min aerosol challenges of Aspergillus terreus, demonstrated a significant (2- to 3-fold) increase 24-48 h after challenge. Haptoglobin elevation was a more reliable and consistent indicator of pulmonary inflammation than depression of PaO2. To determine the role of haptoglobin in this response, acute phase reactant levels were elevated either actively or passively. When rabbits with augmented haptoglobin levels were exposed to aerosol challenges with A. terreus, the typical depressions in PaO2 at 1-4 h postchallenge were not observed. Plasma containing elevated acute-phase reactants may be involved in limiting the pulmonary response that normally occurs following challenge. Haptoglobin did not bind to A. terreus spores in vitro.

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