Expression of transforming growth factor beta-1 and nuclear factor kappa B in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its clinical significance / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the expressions of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),and to explore the mechanism of pathogenesis in COPD.Methods A total of 40 patients undergoing lung resections for pulmonary tumor were selected.Patients were divided into 2 groups according to COPD diagnostic criteria:the control group [patients without COPD,13 males,7 females,with an average age of (61.7±8.8) years] and the COPD group [patients with COPD,15 males,5 females,with an average age of (60.5 ± 9.4) years].Peripheral lung tissues from tumor lesions were detected in this study.The qualitative and quantitative expressions of NF-κB were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot,respectively.TGF-β31 mRNA level was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results The levels of TGF β1 mRNA and NF-κB protein and the NF-κB nucleus positive rate were significantly higher in the COPDgroup than in the control group [(0.42±0.11) vs.(0.34±0.13),(0.24±0.08) vs.(0.12±0.04),57.9％ vs.26.7％,respectively,all P＜0.05].The TGF-β31 mRNA level was positively correlated with the NF-κB protein expression in the 2 groups (r=0.497,0.618,both P＜0.01).The ratio of 1 second forced expiratory volume/forced vital capacity (FEV1/ FVC) was negatively correlated with TGF-β1 mRNA level and NF-κB protein expression (r=-0.624,r=-0.659,both P ＜0.01) in the COPD group.Conclusions The expression levels of NF-κB and TGF-β1 are significantly increased in patients with COPD,and there is a positive correlation between TGF-β1mRNA level and NF-κB protein expression.NF-κB may participate in regulating TGF-β1 mRNA expression and in contributing to the airway remodeling,thereby in effecting pulmonary function.