Abstract: Elastic fiber damage is responsible for the distention and rupture of alveolar walls in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The current invention comprises a method of adjusting the a dosage of a drug that prevents such elastic fiber damage by employing a feedback loop consisting of measuring the levels of the unique elastic fiber breakdown products, desmosine and isodesmosine in body fluids, preferably sputum. The recent discovery that sputum levels of desmosine and isodesmosine are responsive to treatment with aerosolized hyaluronan in COPD patients makes dosage adjustment both feasible and desirable. This process of dosage adjustment may be applicable to any drug that prevents lung elastic fiber damage, such as alpha-1-antitrypsin, other anti-elastase agents, and antioxidants. It is anticipated that such dosage adjustment will become the “standard of care” in the treatment of COPD patients.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a method for biochemically determining the extent of emphysematous changes in the lung. This method is entirely novel in that it links a biochemical parameter (the ratio of free to peptide-bound desmosine and isodesmosine [DID]) to specific morphological changes in lung tissue consisting of airspace enlargement and rupture of alveolar walls. While the total amount of DID in blood, urine, and sputum have been previously used to measure the rate of breakdown of lung elastic fibers, recent insights using percolation theory, have shown that the ratio of free to peptide-bound DID specifically reflects the total amount of elastic fiber damage in the lung, and is therefore a sensitive measure of emphysematous changes in the lung (which are the direct result of elastic fiber breakdown in alveolar septa).

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to the prevention and treatment of respiratory disorders by intratracheal administration of an effective amount of lysozyme, either alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents. Applicable respiratory disorders include, but are not limited to, pulmonary emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, interstitial fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and neoplasia. The method is intended for a variety of mammals, including humans ranging from premature neonates to adults.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to the measurement of elastic fiber breakdown products in human sputum obtained from patients with emphysema and other lung diseases. Measurement of elastic fiber breakdown products may be used to monitor the progression of lung disease or to assess the efficacy of a treatment for lung disease. Such breakdown products are associated with lung injury resulting from degradation of lung elastic fibers. This process may occur in emphysema and other inflammatory disease of the lung where excess amounts of elastase are secreted by inflammatory cells. The methods for measuring elastin breakdown products in certain tissue fluids (i.e. blood, urine, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) are well known to the art but have not been previously applied to sputum samples. The use of sputum has several advantages over other fluids, including greater specificity and ease of procurement.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to the treatment of tissue fibrosis by administration of an effective amount of lectin. Fibrosis herein refers to the accumulation of extracellular matrix constituents that occurs following trauma, inflammation, tissue repair, immunological reactions, cellular hyperplasia, and neoplasia. Examples of tissue fibrosis include, but are not limited to, pulmonary fibrosis, cirrhosis of the liver, skin scars and keloids, adhesions, fibromatosis, atherosclerosis, and amyloidosis. The treatment is intended for a variety of mammals, including humans.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to the prevention and treatment of respiratory disorders by intratracheal administration of an effective amount of lysozyme, either alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents. Applicable respiratory disorders include, but are not limited to, pulmonary emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, interstitial fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and neoplasia. The method is intended for a variety of mammals, including humans ranging from premature neonates to adults.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to the treatment of respiratory disorders by intratracheal administration of an effective amount of lysozyme. Respiratory disorders include emphysema, pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, interstitial fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and neoplasia. The treatment is intended for a variety of animals, such as premature neonates to adult humans. Administration of lysozyme may be performed by aerosol, which can be generated by a nebulizer or by instillation. The lysozyme may be administered alone or with a carrier such as saline solution, DMSO, and alcohol, or water. It may also be used as a vehicle for the intratracheal administration of drugs or other agents to the lung. The lysozyme may be isolated from a natural source, such as eggs, or synthesized by a bioprocess, such as fermentation. The effective daily amount of lysozyme is from about 10 &mgr;g/kg to about 1 mg/kg of body weight.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to the measurement of elastic fiber breakdown products in human sputum obtained from patients with emphysema and other lung diseases. Measurement of elastic fiber breakdown products may be used to monitor the progression of lung disease or to assess the efficacy of a treatment for lung disease. Such breakdown products are associated with lung injury resulting from degradation of lung elastic fibers. This process may occur in emphysema and other inflammatory diseases of the lung where excess amounts of elastase are secreted by inflammatory cells. The methods for measuring elastin breakdown products in certain tissue fluids (i.e. blood, urine, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) are well known to the art but have not been previously applied to sputum samples. The use of sputum has several advantages over other fluids, including greater specificity and ease of procurement.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to the treatment of tissue fibrosis by administration of an effective amount of lectin. Fibrosis herein refers to the accumulation of extracellular matrix constituents that occurs following trauma, inflammation, tissue repair, immunological reactions, cellular hyperplasia, and neoplasia. Examples of tissue fibrosis include, but are not limited to, pulmonary fibrosis, cirrhosis of the liver, skin scars and keloids, adhesions, fibromatosis, atherosclerosis, and amyloidosis. The treatment is intended for a variety of mammals, including humans.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to the treatment of respiratory disorders by intratracheal administration of an effective amount of lysozyme. Respiratory disorders include emphysema, pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, interstitial fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and neoplasia. The treatment is intended for a variety of animals, such as premature neonates to adult humans. Administration of lysozyme may be performed by aerosol, which can be generated by a nebulizer or by instillation. The lysozyme may be administered alone or with a carrier such as saline solution, DMSO, and alcohol, or water. It may also be used as a vehicle for the intratracheal administration of drugs or other agents to the lung. The lysozyme may be isolated from a natural source, such as eggs, or synthesized by a bioprocess, such as fermentation. The effective daily amount of lysozyme is from about 10 &mgr;g/kg to about 1 mg/kg of body weight.