Biomarkers for cystic fibrosis lung disease: Application of SELDI-TOF mass spectrometry to BAL fluid

AbstractBackgroundFor cystic fibrosis (CF) patients there is a lack of good assays of disease activity and response to new therapeutic interventions, including gene therapy. Current measures of airways inflammation severity are insensitive or non-specific.MethodsBronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 39 CF children and 38 respiratory disease controls was obtained at bronchoscopy and analysed by surface enhanced laser desorption ionisation time of flight (SELDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Recognized proteins were assessed for CF disease specificity. Individual protein identification of specific peaks was performed.Results1277 proteins/peptides, >4 kDa, were detected using 12 different surfaces and binding conditions. 202 proteins/peptides were differentially expressed in the CF samples (p