Cell-specific regulation of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase in human interstitial lung diseases.

The pathogenesis of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) is known to be associated with reactive oxygen and nitrogen metabolites and increased oxidant stress. One of the major antioxidants in human lung is glutathione (GSH) and enzymes linked to its synthesis. The rate-limiting enzyme of GSH synthesis is gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS) containing catalytically active heavy (gamma-GCSh) and regulatory light (gamma-GCSl) subunits. It can be hypothesized that gamma-GCS is the major determinant in explaining reduced GSH levels in fibrotic lung disorders. We investigated the regulation of gamma-GCS by transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in human lung cells and its expression and distribution in fibrotic (biopsy-proven idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, for instance, usual interstitial pneumonia, UIP, n = 15), inflammatory, and granulomatous diseases of human lung parenchyma (desquamative interstitial pneumonia, n = 10; ILD associated with collagen diseases, n = 10; sarcoidosis, n = 19 and allergic alveolitis, n = 8). In human lung alveolar epithelial cells, gamma-GCSh was decreased by TGF-beta(1), whereas TNF-alpha caused a transient enzyme induction. In normal lung, gamma-GCS was mainly localized to the bronchiolar epithelium. In UIP, the highest immunoreactivities were observed in the airway epithelium and metaplastic alveolar epithelium, but fibroblastic foci were negative. In sarcoidosis, the highest reactivities were detected in the epithelium, alveolar macrophages and pulmonary granulomas. gamma-GCS was ultrastructurally localized to the cytoplasm of regenerating type II pneumocytes and macrophages. In conclusion, gamma-GCS is widely expressed in sarcoidosis and regenerating epithelium but is low in the fibrotic areas of usual interstitial pneumonia, probably because of enzyme down-regulation.

Increased postoperative concentrations of tenascin-C in wound fluid.

BACKGROUND: Tenascin-C (Tn-C) is the most studied member of a family comprising large oligomeric glycoproteins in the extracellular matrix. The function of Tn-C still is unclear, and the levels of Tn-C in human wound fluid have not been studied. METHODS: The participants in this study were 24 patients referred for elective major gastrointestinal surgery. Concentrations of Tn-C and procollagen propeptides type 1 and type 3 in serum and wound fluid were measured after surgery. RESULTS: In wound fluid, Tn-C was present on postoperative day 1, and the concentration increased from day 5 up to day 7. CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of Tn-C increases postoperatively in wound fluid. The concentration of Tn-C in wound fluid is markedly higher than that of serum. The differences in expression between Tn-C and the procollagen propeptides may reflect different tasks of these extracellular matrix proteins.