Figure 6.

Soluble MMP-12 and ADAMDEC1 are elevated in acellular bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in sarcoidosis. Western blot analysis of concentrated BAL fluid from patients with sarcoidosis (n = 12) and healthy control subjects (n = 8). Gel loading was normalized to 10 μg total protein per lane using the bicinchoninic acid protein assay. Images are representative of two independent sample sets. (A) For MMP-12, recombinant pro–MMP-12 was used as a control with the expected band seen at 54 kD (arrow). (B) For ADAMDEC1, two bands were visualized: a species around the expected size (53 kD, arrow) and a dimer of approximately 28 kD that represents a cleavage product (arrowhead). The unlabeled bands likely represent nonspecific binding. (C and D) Densitometry results. (C) The MMP-12 level was higher overall in patients with sarcoidosis compared with healthy control subjects (1.65-fold; P = 0.003; Student's t test); (D) the increase was nearly significant for ADAMDEC1 (1.28-fold; P = 0.056). Stratification of the subjects by clinical phenotype revealed that MMP12 and ADAMDEC1 levels were elevated in severe versus nonsevere subjects (1.45-fold and 1.39-fold, respectively; P < 0.001 for both; Tukey's test). HC = healthy controls; NS = nonsevere; SEV = severe.