Pulmonary secretory phospholipase A2 in infants with respiratory distress syndrome stimulates in vitro neutrophil migration.

Background: The massive pulmonary neutrophil influx in respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants has been ascribed to the effect of leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)).

Objectives: To investigate whether secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)), the rate-limiting enzyme in LTB(4) production, is present in lungs of RDS infants and stimulates neutrophil migration.

Methods: sPLA(2) was measured in tracheal aspirates from 15 preterm infants with RDS.