Tissue Collection From People With Cystic Fibrosis

Overview

This study will examine the relationship between bacterial products in lung infections in cystic fibrosis and disease severity. It will examine plasma and lung tissue from cystic fibrosis patients. Patients with cystic fibrosis and having certain genetic characteristics, who are between 9 and 65 years of age and any cystic fibrosis patient undergoing lung transplantation at INOVA Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia, may be eligible for this study. Patients who cannot undergo apheresis may be asked to provide up to an additional 100 cc (7 tablespoons) of blood for research to look at bacterial products. Lung specimens of participating transplant patients will be collected at INOVA Fairfax Hospital. Patients who participate in the apheresis portion of the study will be admitted to the NIH Clinical Center for 2 to 3 days. Apheresis is a procedure for collecting large quantities of specific blood components. For this study, plasma-the liquid part of the blood-will be collected. For the procedure, whole blood is collected through a needle in an arm vein, similar to donating blood. The blood is separated into its components by centrifugation (spinning), the plasma and white cells are extracted and collected in a bag, and the red cells are returned to the body, either through the same needle or through another needle in the other arm. During the hospital stay, patients may also be asked to participate in other cystic fibrosis studies involving blood tests, an echocardiogram (ultrasound test of the heart), urine pregnancy test, and pulmonary function (breathing) tests.

Lungs of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) are frequently colonized with a number of bacterial pathogens. One of the most common organisms is Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Previous studies have shown the presence of the type III-secretion pathway within P. aeruginosa, implicating these cytotoxins as virulence factors for this organism. To evaluate further the effect of these cytotoxins on lung cells, we would like to collect plasma and tissue from individuals with CF. Because larger quantities of plasma than can safely be obtained by simple phlebotomy will be required, apheresis procedures performed in the Clinical Center Apheresis Unit will be used. To obtain lung cells from patients with CF infected with P. aeruginosa, tissue from explanted lungs will be collected in collaboration with INOVA Fairfax Hospital. We intend to look for expression of the type- III proteins of P. aeruginosa by measuring the immune response against components of the type- III pathway and their presence in lung cells.