Transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor in pulmonary arteries of patients with very severe COPD.
Eur Respir J
; 28(3): 556-62, 2006 Sep.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16737987
ABSTRACT
A mild-to-moderate increase in pulmonary arterial pressure is often associated with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta is a cytokine involved in the maintenance of integrity of vasculature. The aim of the study was to investigate whether the TGF-beta pathway might be involved in the development of pulmonary hypertension associated with COPD. Surgical specimens from 14 patients undergoing lung transplantation for very severe COPD (forced expiratory volume in one second 17 +/- 2% of the predicted value) and from seven donors were examined. The expression of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta type II receptor (TGF-betaRII), cell proliferation index and structural changes in pulmonary arteries were quantified immunohistochemically. In severe COPD patients, increased expression of TGF-betaRII was observed in both the tunica media and intima, which was associated with a normal proliferation index in both layers. Conversely, significant thickening of the tunica intima, which was not present in the tunica media, was observed, suggesting that mechanisms other than cell proliferation may be involved in intimal thickening. In conclusion, in the pulmonary arteries of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, there is upregulation of transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor expression associated with a normal proliferation index. These findings suggest the activation of an antiproliferative pathway, which might explain the relatively low degree of pulmonary hypertension observed in these subjects.
Search on Google
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Arteria Pulmonar
/
Receptores de Factores de Crecimiento Transformadores beta
/
Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica
/
Hipertensión Pulmonar
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Año:
2006
Tipo del documento:
Article