OBJECTIVE: To describe the changes in lung-specific secretory proteins in biological fluids in a fatal case of paraquat ingestion and to present immunostaining data obtained on postmortem lung tissue specimens. METHODS: A 20-year-old man committed suicide by ingesting 100ml of a 20% paraquat solution. Surfactant associated proteins A (SP-A), B (SP-B) and Clara cell 16kDa protein (CC16) were determined in the serum and on broncho-alveloar lavage performed 18h after admission. Renal failure progressed rapidly and the patient died from refractory hypoxia. Immunostaining studies using antibodies directed against CC16, SP-A and SP-B were performed on postmortem lung tissue specimens. RESULTS: Serum CC16 seemed to increase gradually with the progression of renal impairment. Serum SP-A and SP-B levels increased before any significant changes in pulmonary gas exchanges. The immunostaining study showed that the labeling for SP-A and SP-B was reduced or absent following paraquat toxicity, while Clara cells were relatively preserved. CONCLUSIONS: The elevation of serum CC16 with paraquat toxicity is probably mainly related to a reduced renal clearance. The increase of serum SP-A and SP-B could reflect an increased lung to blood leakage, independently of the alteration of the renal function.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the changes in lung-specific secretory proteins in biological fluids in a fatal case of paraquat ingestion and to present immunostaining data obtained on postmortem lung tissue specimens. METHODS: A 20-year-old man committed suicide by ingesting 100ml of a 20% paraquat solution. Surfactant associated proteins A (SP-A), B (SP-B) and Clara cell 16kDa protein (CC16) were determined in the serum and on broncho-alveloar lavage performed 18h after admission. Renal failure progressed rapidly and the patient died from refractory hypoxia. Immunostaining studies using antibodies directed against CC16, SP-A and SP-B were performed on postmortem lung tissue specimens. RESULTS: Serum CC16 seemed to increase gradually with the progression of renal impairment. Serum SP-A and SP-B levels increased before any significant changes in pulmonary gas exchanges. The immunostaining study showed that the labeling for SP-A and SP-B was reduced or absent following paraquattoxicity, while Clara cells were relatively preserved. CONCLUSIONS: The elevation of serum CC16 with paraquattoxicity is probably mainly related to a reduced renal clearance. The increase of serum SP-A and SP-B could reflect an increased lung to blood leakage, independently of the alteration of the renal function.
Authors: Darren M Roberts; Martin F Wilks; Michael S Roberts; Ramasamyiyer Swaminathan; Fahim Mohamed; Andrew H Dawson; Nick A Buckley Journal: Toxicol Lett Date: 2011-02-01 Impact factor: 4.372