alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-A.T.) phenotypes were determined in 55 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (R.A.), 33 patients with R.A. and either obstructive airways disease or recurrent chest infections, 49 patients with fibrosing alveolitis (F.A.), 22 patients with R.A. and F.A., and 200 healthy controls.
Interestingly, while 66 +/- 3% of normal alveolar macrophages contain fibronectin mRNA transcripts, this is increased to 82 +/- 2% (P less than 0.01) of alveolar macrophages recovered from the lungs of individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic inflammatory disorder associated with exaggerated amounts of fibronectin in the lower respiratory tract.
Previously, we demonstrated that foci of activated fibroblasts expressing high levels of fibronectin, procollagen, and smooth muscle actin and thus resembling those found in healing wounds are responsible for the connective tissue deposition and scarring in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Previously, we demonstrated that foci of activated fibroblasts expressing high levels of fibronectin, procollagen, and smooth muscle actin and thus resembling those found in healing wounds are responsible for the connective tissue deposition and scarring in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
One potential source of the TGF-beta 1 is the alveolar macrophage, and we demonstrate the expression of abundant TGF-beta 1 mRNA in alveolar macrophages in lung tissue from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Neutrophil migration into the airspaces of the lung is thought to contribute to the alveolar damage and subsequent fibrosis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Enhanced IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha release and messenger RNA expression in macrophages from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or after asbestos exposure.
An elevated concentration of tumor necrosis factor = alpha, particularly within the alveolar epithelium, might contribute to the alveolar damage and proliferation of interstitial cells in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Enhanced IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha release and messenger RNA expression in macrophages from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or after asbestos exposure.
We suggest that IL-8 is a key factor in the pathogenesis of fibrosing alveolitis and that the poorer prognosis of CFA compared with FASSc is related to higher levels of IL-8 within the lower respiratory tract.
Cultured lung fibroblasts isolated from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have a diminished capacity to synthesize prostaglandin E2 and to express cyclooxygenase-2.
These findings suggest that the fibrotic tissue changes of IPF and possibly other chronic interstitial lung diseases may result in part from the local effects of IRAP, and they also demonstrate that pulmonary nonimmune cells may influence local tissue changes through the elaboration of IRAP.
Interestingly, the cellular localizations of PDGF receptor-alpha and -beta, and of IGF-I receptor were the same as those of the PDGF and IGF-I proteins in early-stage IPF, whereas these cells were not positive for any of these substances in late-stage IPF or normal controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)