This Article Full Text All Versions of this Article: 200210-1234OCv1 169/1/27    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lappi-Blanco, E. Articles by Pääkkö, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lappi-Blanco, E. Articles by Pääkkö, P.

Laminin-5 ₂ Chain in Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Departments of Pathology, Internal Medicine, and Biochemistry, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, and Biocenter Oulu, Oulu, Finland

Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Elisa Lappi-Blanco, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Pathology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland. E-mail: elisa.lappi-blanco{at}oulu.fi

Insufficient reepithelialization of injured alveolar walls may be important in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Laminin-5 is expressed in epithelial cells of healing wounds, promoting cell attachment and migration. In this study we have studied the extent of reepithelialization of newly formed intraluminal connective tissue, the immunohistochemical expression and ultrastructural localization of the laminin-5 ₂ chain protein, and the synthesis of the laminin-5 ₂ chain mRNA in regenerating epithelial cells in cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) and IPF. The results show that the mean extent of reepithelialization of intraluminal connective tissue lesions was 76% (SD, ± 27%) in COP, and 54% (SD, ± 23%) in IPF (p < 0.025). The laminin-5 ₂ chain was synthesized and widely expressed in regenerating epithelial cells in both diseases. Immunohistochemistry for surfactant-associated protein A suggests a pneumocyte origin for the regenerating epithelial cells in IPF. It is concluded that both in COP and IPF, regenerating epithelial cells are capable of synthesizing the laminin-5 ₂ chain needed for adhesive connections to the underlying basement membrane. However, in IPF, the reepithelialization seems to be disturbed or delayed.

Key Words: alveolar epithelium • cryptogenic organizing pneumonia • idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis • laminin-5 • pulmonary fibrosis

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J-F. Cordier Cryptogenic organising pneumonia. Eur. Respir. J., August 1, 2006; 28(2): 422 - 446. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Selman and A. Pardo Role of epithelial cells in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: from innocent targets to serial killers. Proceedings of the ATS, January 1, 2006; 3(4): 364 - 372. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. D. Bradley, Y. E. Miller, F. J. Martinez, D. C. Angus, W. MacNee, and E. Abraham Interstitial Lung Disease, Lung Cancer, Lung Transplantation, Pulmonary Vascular Disorders, and Sleep-disordered Breathing in AJRCCM in 2004 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 1, 2005; 171(7): 675 - 685. [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Zhang, L. D. Nielsen, J. J. Lucas, and R. J. Mason Transforming Growth Factor-{beta} Antagonizes Alveolar Type II Cell Proliferation Induced by Keratinocyte Growth Factor Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., December 1, 2004; 31(6): 679 - 686. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Myers and M. Selman Respiratory Epithelium in Usual Interstitial Pneumonia/Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Spark or Destructive Flame? Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., January 1, 2004; 169(1): 3 - 5. [Full Text] [PDF]