Total protein level measurement in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of rat using the Bradford Protein Assay Kit from OZ Biosciences

Total protein level as a determinant of lung vasculature permeability was determined in BALF using the Bradford method (BPAK kit). 

This article demonstrate the capacity of the Bradford Protein Assay Kit from OZ Biosciences  to efficiently measure the total protein concentration in BALF of rats.

article reference: Cell Biochem Biophys. 2014 Apr 24. 

Plasma-Derived Human C1-Esterase Inhibitor Does Not Prevent Mechanical Ventilation-Induced Pulmonary Complement Activation in a Rat Model of Streptococcus pneumoniae Pneumonia.

de Beer FM, Aslami H, Hoeksma J, van Mierlo G, Wouters D, Zeerleder S, Roelofs JJ, Juffermans NP, Schultz MJ, Lagrand WK.

Abstract

Mechanical ventilation has the potential to cause lung injury, and the role of complement activation herein is uncertain. We hypothesized that inhibition of the complement cascade by administration of plasma-derived human C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) prevents ventilation-induced pulmonary complement activation, and as such attenuates lung inflammation and lung injury in a rat model of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia. Forty hours after intratracheal challenge with S. pneumoniae causing pneumonia rats were subjected to ventilation with lower tidal volumes and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or high tidal volumes without PEEP, after an intravenous bolus of C1-INH (200 U/kg) or placebo (saline). After 4 h of ventilation blood, broncho-alveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue were collected. Non-ventilated rats with S. pneumoniae pneumonia served as controls. While ventilation with lower tidal volumes and PEEP slightly amplified pneumonia-induced complement activation in the lungs, ventilation with higher tidal volumes without PEEP augmented local complement activation more strongly. Systemic pre-treatment with C1-INH, however, failed to alter ventilation-induced complement activation with both ventilation strategies. In accordance, lung inflammation and lung injury were not affected by pre-treatment with C1-INH, neither in rats ventilated with lower tidal volumes and PEEP, nor rats ventilated with high tidal volumes without PEEP. Ventilation augments pulmonary complement activation in a rat model of S. pneumoniae pneumonia. Systemic administration of C1-INH, however, does not attenuate ventilation-induced complement activation, lung inflammation, and lung injury.

The Bradford Protein Assay Kit (B-Pak) from OZ Biosciences is a straightforward and rapid procedure for determining the concentration of protein in solution.The B-Pak is based on the binding of Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 dye to the proteins and particularly basic and aromatic amino acids residues. The dye exists in three forms: cationic (red), neutral (green) and anionic (blue).