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Phospholipase A2 in meconium-induced lung injury

Journal of Perinatology volume 28, pages S120–S122 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Although the triggering mechanisms of tissue inflammation and injury in meconium-contaminated lungs are still unclear, there is increasing evidence to suggest a central role for phospholipase A2's (PLA2). In fact, elevated PLA2 activities together with high enzyme concentrations, especially the amount of pancreatic (group I) secretory PLA2 (PLA2-I), have been detected in human meconium and in meconium-contaminated lungs. Recent data from our laboratory further indicate that human pancreatic PLA2, introduced in high amounts within aspirated particulate meconium, is a potent inducer of lung tissue inflammatory injury. Our finding of elevated human PLA2-I concentrations in plasma during the first hours after intratracheal meconium administration in newborn piglets further suggests that intrapulmonary aspiration of meconium could also have systemic inflammatory and injurious effects. This, however, remains to be studied in further detail.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Foundation for Pediatric Research, the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, and the Paulo Foundation, Finland.

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  1. Department of Pediatrics, Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    P Kääpä & H Soukka

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  1. P Kääpä
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  2. H Soukka
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Correspondence to P Kääpä.

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The authors have declared no financial interests.

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Kääpä, P., Soukka, H. Phospholipase A2 in meconium-induced lung injury. J Perinatol 28 (Suppl 3), S120–S122 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.147

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