Nerve growth factor levels in the bronchial aspirates of ventilated preterm infants

Background: Nerve growth factor (NGF), a neurotrophin, has been found to be increased in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with bronchial hyperactivity and asthma. It is produced by lung epithelial cells and airway smooth muscle cells in vitro and this production is upregulated by cytokines such as IL-1beta. It also modulates lung fibroblast migration and increases transforming growth factor-beta. Airway hyperactivity is also found in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia who have been ventilated for long periods of time. In the present study we prospectively examined the presence of nerve…