Analgosedation during flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy: comparing the clinical effectiveness and safety of remifentanil versus midazolam/propofol.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data regarding the efficacy and safety of remifentanil sedation for diagnostic bronchoscopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of remifentanil by comparing it with those of conventional drugs, midazolam and propofol. METHODS: A retrospective study of 186 patients who underwent diagnostic bronchoscopy at Chonbuk National University Hospital was performed. Patients were classified into the remifentanil group and midazolam/propofol group according to the drugs used during bronchoscopy. RESULTS: Of the 186 patients, 111 patients received remifentanil and 75 received midazolam/propofol during the bronchoscopy. The proportion of patients who required bronchoscopy for endobronchial inspection alone was significantly higher in the midazolam/propofol group than in the remifentanil group (93.3% vs. 73.0%; p <  0.001). In contrast, the proportion of patients who required more invasive procedures, such as bronchoscopic biopsy, bronchoalveolar lavage, or transbronchial lung biopsy, was significantly higher in the remifentanil group than in the midazolam/propofol group (27.0% vs. 6.7%; p <  0.001). The recovery time was significantly shorter in the remifentanil group than in the midazolam/propofol group (mean 6.4 min vs. 11.6 min, p <  0.001). There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to safety events including desaturation, hypotension, and arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the higher proportion of patients who underwent more invasive procedures in the remifentanil group than in the midazolam/propofol group, there was no significant difference in safety events between the groups. Those in the remifentanil group also demonstrated a faster recovery time than those in the midazolam/propofol group.

Benign metastasizing leiomyoma presenting as multiple cystic pulmonary nodules: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Benign metastatic leiomyoma (BML) is an extremely rare disease. Although uterine leiomyomas are benign histologically, they can metastasize to distant sites. While the incidence is very low, the lung is the organ most frequently affected by BML. Pulmonary BML usually presents as numerous well-defined nodules of various sizes, while the cavitary or cystic features in the nodules are rarely observed on radiologic images. CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old woman complained of cough and dyspnea for one month. She had been previously diagnosed with uterine leiomyoma and had undergone total hysterectomy about 14 years prior. High-resolution computed tomography (CT) images showed that there were multiple cystic nodules of various sizes in both lungs. Pathologic examination revealed that the pulmonary nodule had complex branching glandular structures lined by a single layer of simple cuboidal to columnar epithelium that was surrounded by abundant spindle cells. Additional immunohistochemistry data suggested that pulmonary nodule diagnosis was BML-associated uterine leiomyoma. CONCLUSION: In this report, we introduce an interesting case of pulmonary BML that presented as a combination of various kinds of nodules including simple round nodules, simple cysts, and cysts with a solid portion, which are very rare radiologic features of BML in lung. In addition, when the patient is a woman of reproductive age, physicians should meticulously review the gynecological history and suspect BML when there are various cystic pulmonary lesions.

Influenza vaccination trend and related factors among patients with diabetes in Korea: Analysis using a nationwide database.

Background: Subjects with diabetes are at higher risk of serious influenza-related complications. We aimed to investigate the yearly trend of influenza vaccination and factors associated with being unvaccinated for influenza in subjects with diabetes using a nationwide observational study performed within the recent decade. Methods: Among 105,732 subjects from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2007 and 2019, 8,632 with diabetes were included. We investigated the yearly trend of influenza vaccination and factors associated with being unvaccinated for influenza. Results: During the study period, the prevalence of influenza vaccination in subjects with diabetes showed a tendency to increase every year, reaching almost 60% in 2019, which was higher than the rate in subjects without diabetes. Younger age (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) [95% CI] 11.29 [8.63-14.75] for < 50 years; 6.16 [5.21-7.29] for 50-65 years), male (aHR 1.67 [1.52-1.87]), current smoker (aHR 1.31 [1.00-1.72], lower-income status (aHR 1.46 [1.17, 1.84]), and high education level (aHR 1.30 [1.01-1.67]) were associated with being unvaccinated. Also, a poorer glycemic control with HbA1c ≥ 9% was found to be correlated with unvaccinated status (aHR 1.48 [1.15-1.90]). Conclusion: The influenza vaccination rate is still unsatisfactory in subjects with diabetes. Young age, males, low-income level, high education level, and poor glycemic control were associated with unvaccinated status. Considering the risk-benefits of influenza vaccination in patients with diabetes, physicians should make an effort to increase vaccination rates, especially in low vaccination rate groups.

Risk factors and clinical features for pulmonary paragonimiasis-associated pneumothorax.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary paragonimiasis, a food-borne zoonotic helminthiasis, is a parasitic disease of the lung caused by infection with trematodes species of the genus Paragonimus. Although pneumothorax has been reported as occuring with paragonimiasis, to date no study has been performed concerning the clinical features and predictive risk factors for this condition. METHODS: This retrospective study, which aims to fill this gap, was conducted at Jeonbuk National University Hospital. All patients (aged ≥19 years) were diagnosed with paragonimiasis between May 2011 and December 2021. Medical records were reviewed and information concerning age, sex, vital signs, underlying diseases, clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory findings, radiologic findings, treatment, and clinical outcomes was collected. An odds ratio (OR) for the risk factors associated with pneumothorax was calculated using the binary logistic regression model. RESULTS: Among 179 consecutive patients diagnosed with pulmonary paragonimiasis, the postive rate of pneumothorax was 10.6% (19/179). Pneumothorax occurred mostly in the right lung (78.9%, 15/19), and intrapulmonary parenchymal lesions showed an ipsilateral relationship with pneumothorax (94.7%, 18/19). Fifteen patients (78.9%, 15/19) of pneumothorax associated with pulmonary paragonimiasis are accompanied by pleural effusion. Most of patients with pneumothorax (89.5%, 17/19) underwent chest tube insertion as a first treatment. Three patients (15.8%) showed relapses but in no case was a death recorded. Asthma (odds ratio [OR] 8.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43-45.91), chest pain (OR 8.15, 95% CI 2.70-24.58), and intrapulmonary lesions (OR 8.94, 95% CI 1.12-71.36) were independent risk factors for pulmonary paragonimiasis-associated pneumothorax. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that clinicians should keep in mind the possibility of pneumothorax when approached by patients with pulmonary paragonimiasis complaining of chest pain, accompanied by intrapulmonary lesions or with asthma as an underlying disease.

Relationship between type D personality, symptoms, cancer stigma, and quality of life among patients with lung cancer.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the influence of type D personality on quality of life in patients with lung cancer. METHODS: A correlational, cross-sectional research design was used. A convenience sample of 136 patients with lung cancer were recruited from an outpatient pulmonology clinic. Data collection was performed using a structured questionnaire between July and August 2019. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, an independent t-test, a one-way ANOVA, the χ2 test, an ANCOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis, which were performed using the SPSS WIN 25.0 program. RESULTS: Type D personality was identified in 18.4% of the participants. Patients with type D personality had poorer quality of life and experienced more cancer stigma and more severe symptoms. Type D personality had the strongest association with quality of life among patients with lung cancer, followed by cancer stigma and symptoms. Poor quality of life was associated with non-married status and higher Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group grade. CONCLUSIONS: Type D personality, stigma, symptoms, and demographic and clinical factors should be considered when assessing quality of life in patients with lung cancer. Interventions that reflect these factors, including type D personality, may help enhance quality of life for patients with lung cancer in oncology nursing practice.

Tracheal neurofibroma treated by repeated flexible bronchoscopic cryotherapy: A case report.

RATIONALE: Isolated endotracheal neurofibroma is very rare. The majority of neurofibromas are benign, but rarely, they can become cancerous. Furthermore, symptomatic neurofibroma is usually treated by surgical resection. Recently, several alternative options for surgical resection of this airway pathology have been suggested and developed, including bronchoscopic cryotherapy. Nevertheless, there has been no report on the application of repeated flexible bronchoscopic cryotherapy to remove an endotracheal neurofibroma. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 65-year-old woman presented with progressive dyspnea and productive cough. Chest computed tomography scans revealed a 1.5-cm polypoid-shaped mass with fat attenuation and mild enhancement in the distal trachea. Flexible bronchoscopic cryotherapy was performed to remove the mass and confirm the diagnosis. DIAGNOSIS: Pathologically, the mass was diagnosed as an endotracheal neurofibroma occupying the distal tracheal lumen. INTERVENTIONS: The endotracheal neurofibroma was completely removed with repeated flexible bronchoscopic cryotherapy instead of surgical resection. OUTCOMES: Follow-up flexible bronchoscopy also revealed that there was no regrowth of the neurofibroma. Up to 18 months after the completion of serial cryotherapy, the patient had no recurrent symptoms or complaints. LESSONS: Flexible bronchoscopic cryotherapy can be performed repeatedly for therapeutic purposes for airway tumors. It is recommended to consider flexible bronchoscopic cryotherapy as an alternative therapeutic option for patients with central airway obstruction due to tumorous lesions such as neurofibromas.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist down-regulates IL-17 expression in a murine model of allergic airway inflammation.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) plays a critical role in the control of airway inflammation. Recently, IL-17 has been found to be implicated in many immune and inflammatory responses, including airway inflammation. However, no data are available concerning the effect of PPARgamma on IL-17 production in airway inflammatory diseases. In this study, we used a mouse model of asthma to evaluate the effect of two PPARgamma agonists, rosiglitazone or pioglitazone, on IL-17 expression in allergic airway disease. After OVA inhalation, mice developed the typical pathophysiological features of asthma, and the expression of IL-17 protein and mRNA in the lungs was increased. Administration of rosiglitazone or pioglitazone reduced the pathophysiological features of asthma and decreased the increased IL-17 protein and mRNA expression after OVA inhalation. In addition, the attenuating effect of PPARgamma agonist on allergic airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness is abrogated by coadministration of rIL-17. This study also showed that the inhibition of IL-17 activity with anti-IL-17 Ab remarkably reduced the increased numbers of inflammatory cells of the airways, airway hyperresponsiveness, and the increased levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and OVA-specific IgE in serum. In addition, we found that administration of rosiglitazone or pioglitazone decreased the increased NF-kappaB activity and that a NF-kappaB inhibitor, BAY 11-7085, substantially reduced the increased IL-17 protein levels in the lung tissues after OVA inhalation. These findings suggest that the therapeutic effect of PPARgamma in asthma is partly mediated by regulation of IL-17 expression via NF-kappaB pathway.

Involvement of sirtuin 1 in airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of allergic airway disease.

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by increased expression of multiple inflammatory genes. Acetylation of histones by histone acetyltransferases is associated with increased gene transcription, whereas hypoacetylation induced by histone deacetylases is associated with suppression of gene expression. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is a member of the silent information regulator 2 family that belongs to class III histone deacetylase. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the role of SIRT1 and the related molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of allergic airway disease. METHODS: By using a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway disease and murine tracheal epithelial cells, this study investigated the involvement of SIRT1 and its signaling networks in allergic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness. RESULTS: In this study with mice after inhalation of OVA, the increased levels of SIRT1, hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha), and vascular endothelial growth factor protein in the lungs after OVA inhalation were decreased substantially by the administration of a SIRT1 inhibitor, sirtinol. We also showed that the administration of sirtinol reduced significantly the increased numbers of inflammatory cells of the airways; airway hyperresponsiveness; increased levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13; and increased vascular permeability in the lungs after OVA inhalation. In addition, we have found that inhibition of SIRT1 reduced OVA-induced upregulation of HIF-1alpha in airway epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that inhibition of SIRT1 might attenuate antigen-induced airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness through the modulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression mediated by HIF-1alpha in mice.

Foreign body removal using flexible bronchoscopy in terminal cancer: A case report.

RATIONALE: Pulmonary foreign body aspiration is a serious medical problem. The risk of foreign body aspiration into the airways increases considerably in patients with end stage cancer with reduced consciousness and impaired airway reflexes. However, few studies have reported on foreign body aspiration in the airways in patients with terminal cancer or receiving end-of-life care. Herein, we report the use of flexible bronchoscopy in patients with end-of-life cancer with pulmonary aspiration. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 71-year-old man with neuroendocrine carcinoma was admitted to a palliative care unit for end-of-life care. He accidentally aspirated implant teeth into the airway with decreased consciousness and death rattle. DIAGNOSIS: On chest x-ray, the foreign material was observed in the left main bronchus. INTERVENTIONS: Despite concerns regarding the use of bronchoscopy given the deterioration of the overall organ function, flexible bronchoscopy was performed. OUTCOMES: Eventually, the foreign body was removed using a basket in the nasal cavity without major complications. The patient died comfortably after 7 days. LESSONS: The possibility of patients in the palliative care unit with reduced consciousness and death rattle to aspirate foreign bodies into the airways must be carefully considered. Flexible bronchoscopy should be considered to carefully remove aspirated foreign bodies in the airway without any side effects, even in patients with terminal cancer or receiving end-of-life care.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis in asymptomatic immunocompetent hosts.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis tends to occur commonly in immunocompromized patients. However, as more individuals are undergoing regular medical examinations, the number of cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis detected incidentally in immunocompetent individuals is increasing. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the radiologic manifestations of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients with no significant symptoms. The clinical records and radiographic findings of 7 immunocompetent subjects with isolated pulmonary cryptococcosis who were diagnosed by pathological examinations, were reviewed. The mean age of patients was 68.4 y (range 58-80 y), and 6 of them were female. The radiographic manifestations in all patients were 1 or more nodules. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated 22 pulmonary nodules with diameter from 3 mm to 22 mm, and multiple nodules were more frequent than solitary nodules (5 cases versus 2 cases). Axial analysis of patients showed that an involvement of the upper lobe was observed in all patients. Most nodules were well defined and smoothly marginated (21 nodules) and cavitations were infrequent findings (2 nodules). Lymphadenopathies were found in 2 patients. The most common imaging finding of pulmonary cryptococcosis in asymptomatic immunocompetent hosts was the presence of multiple nodules marginated smoothly with upper lobe predominance.

Pulmonary benign metastasizing leiomyoma in a postmenopausal woman.

Pulmonary benign metastasizing leiomyoma (BML) is a rare disease occurring predominantly in women of reproductive age and usually develops several years after the resection of a uterine leiomyoma. A 52-year-old postmenopausal woman was admitted to our hospital because of a right-sided empyema. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a multiloculated pleural effusion on the right side and multiple small nodules in the left lung. A wedge biopsy revealed the pulmonary nodule consisting of branching glandular structures surrounded by abundant smooth muscle cells with no atypia. We performed a gynecologic examination to identify the primary origin of the pulmonary smooth muscle tumors. A uterine leiomyoma was found, and the patient underwent a total hysterectomy. Both pulmonary nodules and uterine leiomyoma were positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors. Therefore, we diagnosed the pulmonary lesions as BMLs. This is an interesting case of pulmonary BML identified simultaneously with uterine myoma in a postmenopausal woman. BML should be considered in women with multiple pulmonary nodules, even though it is rare.

Extra-axial chordoma presenting as a lung mass.

Chordomas are slow-growing, malignant tumors of bone that are thought to be derived from the primitive notochord and occur almost exclusively in the axial skeleton. The so-called extra-axial chordoma has been shown to demonstrate identical features to the classic chordoma, except that it is found outside the axial skeleton. Only six cases of extra-axial chordoma have been reported in the literature to date. In this report, we present another case of extra-axial chordoma for the first time originating from the lung parenchyma. A 79-year-old man presented a 7.3-cm-sized cavitary lung mass. Pathologic examination, including immunohistochemical studies, revealed that the mass was a chordoma. We report an extra-axial chordoma for the first time presenting as a lung mass.

Mast cells can mediate vascular permeability through regulation of the PI3K-HIF-1alpha-VEGF axis.

RATIONALE: Bronchial inflammation is usually accompanied by increased vascular permeability. Mast cells release a number of mediators that act directly on the vasculature, resulting in vasodilatation, increased permeability, and subsequent plasma protein extravasation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated to contribute to asthmatic tissue edema through its effect on vascular permeability. However, the effects of mast cells on VEGF-mediated signaling in allergic airway disease are not clearly understood. OBJECTIVES: An aim of the present study was to investigate the role of mast cells on VEGF-mediated signal transduction in allergic airway disease. METHODS: We used genetically mast cell-deficient WBB6F(1)-Kit(W)/Kit(W-v) (W/W(v)) mice and the congenic normal WBB6F(1)(+/+) mouse model for allergic airway disease to investigate the role of mast cells on VEGF-mediated signal transduction in allergic airway disease, more specifically in vascular permeability. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Our present study, with ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized without adjuvant and OVA-challenged mice, revealed the following typical pathophysiologic features of allergic airway diseases: increased inflammatory cells of the airways, airway hyperresponsiveness, increased vascular permeability, and increased levels of VEGF. However, levels of VEGF and plasma exudation in W/W(v) mice after OVA inhalation were significantly lower than levels in WBB6F(1)(+/+) mice. Moreover, mast cell-reconstituted W/W(v) mice restored vascular permeability and VEGF levels similar to those of the WBB6F(1)(+/+) mice. Our data also showed that VEGF expression was regulated by hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) activation through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-HIF-1alpha pathway in allergic airway disease. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that mast cells modulate vascular permeability by the regulation of the PI3K-HIF-1alpha-VEGF axis.

Angiopoietin-1 variant, COMP-Ang1 attenuates hydrogen peroxide-induced acute lung injury.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in acute lung injury. Tissue inflammation, the increased vascular permeability, and plasma exudation are cardinal features of acute lung injury. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) has potential therapeutic applications in preventing vascular leakage and also has beneficial effects in several inflammatory disorders. Recently developed COMP-Ang1 is more potent than native Ang1 in phosphorylating tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin and EGF homology domain 2 receptor in endothelial cells. However, there are no data on effects and related molecular mechanisms of COMP- Ang1 on ROS-induced acute lung injury. We used hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-inhaled mice to evaluate the effect of COMP-Ang1 on pulmonary inflammation, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, and vascular leakage in acute lung injury. The results have revealed that VEGF expression, the levels of IL-4, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in lungs, the levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and NF-kappaB in nuclear protein extracts, phosphorylation of Akt, and vascular permeability were increased after inhalation of H2O2 and that the administration of COMP-Ang1 markedly reduced airway hyper-responsiveness, pulmonary inflammation, plasma extravasation, and the increases of cytokines, adhesion molecules, and VEGF in lungs treated with H2O2. We have also found that the activation of HIF-1a and NF-kB and the increase of phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity in lung tissues after H2O2 inhalation were decreased by the administration of COMP-Ang1. These results suggest that COMP-Ang1 ameliorates ROS-induced acute lung injury through attenuating vascular leakage and modulating inflammatory mediators.

Clinical significance of plasma and serum vascular endothelial growth factor in asthma.

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a mediator of airway inflammation and remodeling in asthma. PURPOSE: We investigated whether VEGF levels are elevated in plasma and serum obtained from patients with asthma and evaluated whether levels of plasma VEGF correlated with those of serum VEGF. METHODS: We measured levels of plasma and serum VEGF in patients with stable asthma or with acute asthma and examined the correlation between plasma and serum VEGF concentration with initial forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)). RESULTS: We found that levels of VEGF in plasma or in serum were significantly increased in stable asthmatic patients and even higher in acute asthmatic patients compared with the levels in healthy control subjects. The levels of serum VEGF correlated significantly with those of plasma VEGF. Additionally, the circulating VEGF levels were significantly inversely correlated with the percent predicted FEV(1). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the overproduction of VEGF is implicated in asthma exacerbation and that measurement of either plasma or serum VEGF level can be a valid index in asthmatic patients. Therefore, the changes in the VEGF levels in peripheral blood of asthmatic patients can be used as a measure for progression of asthma during treatment.

Low attenuation area is associated with airflow limitation and airway hyperresponsiveness.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by airflow limitation and airway hyperresponsiveness. Lung density indices on quantitative computed tomography (QCT) are assumed to reflect the degree of air trapping originated from airflow limitation in airway diseases. PURPOSE: The present study investigated the availability of lung density indices on QCT in clinical evaluation of asthma. METHODS: Eleven asthmatic patients and 48 healthy control subjects were prospectively evaluated by QCT, pulmonary function testing, and a methacholine challenge test. High-resolution computed tomography scans were performed at full-inspiratory and full-expiratory phases, and percentage of lung field occupied by low attenuation area (LAA%) and mean lung density (MLD) at both inspiratory and expiratory phases were measured. RESULTS: MLD values at inspiratory phase were significantly increased in asthmatic patients compared with those in healthy control subjects. Inspiratory LAA% values were significantly decreased in asthmatics compared with the values in control subjects. On expiratory scans, MLD values of asthmatics were significantly lower than the values of control subjects. Expiratory LAA% values of asthmatics were significantly higher than the values of control subjects. The LAA% in the expiratory phase showed significant negative correlation with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)), FEV(1)/forced vital capacity, and the provocative dose of methacholine causing a 20% decrease in FEV(1) in asthmatic patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that lung density indices on QCT may be useful for clinical evaluation of asthmatic patients and increased LAA% in the expiratory phase is associated with airflow limitation and airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase-delta could be a biomarker for eosinophilic nasal polyps.

Nasal polyps (NP) cause diverse clinical symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Chronic inflammation of sinonasal mucosa is known to be crucial in NP formation. We aimed to define the implications of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-δ in nasal inflammation associated with NP by analyzing NP tissue obtained from CRS patients. Results showed that expression of p110δ, a regulatory subunit of PI3K-δ, in NP tissue was increased compared to control tissue. Increased p110δ expression was closely correlated with more severe CRS features. Interestingly, p110δ expression was increased in eosinophilic NP, which are closely related to more complicated clinical courses of the disease. Furthermore, CRS patients possessing NP with higher p110δ expression displayed more eosinophils in NP tissue and blood, higher levels of IL-5 in NP tissue, and more severe features of the disease. Therefore, PI3K-δ may contribute to the formation of NP, especially eosinophilic NP associated with more severe clinical presentations and radiological features.

Change of connexin 37 in allergen-induced airway inflammation.

Gap junction channels formed with connexins directly link to the cytoplasm of adjacent cells and have been implicated in intercellular signaling. Connexin 37 (Cx37) is expressed in the gas-exchange region of the lung. Recently, Cx37 has been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease. However, no data are available on the role of Cx37 in allergic airway inflammatory disease. In the present study, we used a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)- induced allergic airway disease and primary murine epithelial cells to examine the change of Cx37 in allergic airway disease. These mice develop the following typical pathophysiological features of asthma: airway hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation, and increased IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, eotaxin, and RANTES levels in lungs. Cx37 protein and mRNA expression were decreased in OVA-induced allergic airway disease. Immunoreactive Cx37 localized in epithelial layers around the bronchioles in control mice, which dramatically disappeared in allergen-induced asthmatic lungs. Moreover, the levels of Cx37 protein in lung tissues showed significantly negative correlations with airway inflammation, airway responsiveness, and levels of Th2 cytokines in lungs. These findings indicate that change of Cx37 may be associated with the asthma phenotype.