Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 in pleural effusions: A marker of inflammatory disease

SummaryBackgroundTriggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM)-1 is a recently described molecule that plays an important role in myeloid cell-activated inflammatory responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of TREM-1 in pleural effusions of various causes.MethodsFor this cross-sectional, observational study conducted between February and August 2005 in Taiwan, 74 patients with pleural effusions of varying etiology were investigated. Soluble TREM-1 (sTREM-1) was measured in pleural fluid samples, and cells in the fluid were assessed for surface expression of TREM-1.ResultsConcentrations of sTREM-1 were significantly higher in infectious and neoplastic pleural effusions (189.1±36.7 and 69.9±22.8ng/ml, mean±sem) than in transudates (10.1±5.3ng/ml; P<0.001). Among infectious effusions, the sTREM-1 levels were significantly higher in parapneumonic than in tuberculous effusions (301.8±49.8 vs. 38.9±17.3ng/ml; P