Biomarkers for Pulmonary Injury Following Deployment

Abstract : To understand the risks of lung disease faced by soldiers, USACEHR has studied a rat model of lung disease. After instillation of dust or silica, lung pathology was assessed and proteins and microRNAs that were released into the lung lavage fluid were determined. The released proteins and miRNAs marked the stage-specific pathology. We have since profiled proteins and miRNAs in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or urine from active duty soldiers with dyspnea who were evaluated in the lung clinic of the San Antonio Military Medical Center as part of the STAMPEDE project under the medical supervision of Dr. Michael J. Morris. We identified groups of markers that are now being correlated with the lung diagnoses made by Dr. Morris. The markers we described may correlate with lung conditions such as asthma and assist in lung disease diagnosis in the future.