Elevated Levels of Intelectin-1 a Pathogen-binding Lectin in the BAL Fluid of Patients with Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia and Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

摘要

Objective Human intelectin-1 (hITLN-1) binds to galactofuranosyl residues, which are present in the microbial cell wall, but which are absent in mammalian tissues, and has been suggested to play an immunological role against microorganisms. However, the involvement of hITLN-1 in the pathogenesis of diffuse pulmonary diseases remains unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the hITLN-1 concentrations in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of patients with diffuse pulmonary diseases.