title: Endothelin immunoreactivity of airway epithelium in asthmatic patients.
abstract: There is extensive pharmacological and physiological evidence that endothelin-1 influences airway calibre. In mammals, endothelin receptor occur on airway smooth muscle, local storage and release of the peptide have been demonstrated, and inhalation of endothelin-1 induces bronchoconstriction. To investigate the relation between endothelins and asthma the expression of this peptide in endobronchial biopsy specimens was examined immunohistochemically with an antiserum against endothelin-1. Biopsy specimens from 17 asthmatic patients and 11 atopic and non-atopic healthy controls revealed striking differences, with endothelin expression being evident in airways epithelium and vascular endothelium in 11 of the 17 asthmatic patients but in only 1 of 11 controls. These results suggest that endothelins may play a part in the exaggerated bronchomotor tone of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histochemistry, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Springall
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Howarth
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Counihan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Djukanovic
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Holgate
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Polak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001706:Biopsy; D001980:Bronchi / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D016232:Endothelins / Q000032:analysis*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012882:Skin Tests; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins