Increased expression of growth factor genes for macrophages and fibroblasts in bronchoalveolar lavage cells of a patient with pulmonary histiocytosis X.
Pulmonary histiocytosis X is the local manifestation of a systemic disorder of unknown cause characterised by infiltration of Langerhans cell like histiocytes and parenchymal fibrosis. In a male smoker with histologically proved histiocytosis X and functional impairment bronchoalveolar lavage showed an increase in CD-1/OKT-6 antigen positive histiocytes to 8%. Northern blot analysis of RNA from bronchoalveolar lavage cells showed an exaggerated expression of the M-CSF gene and of the c-fms gene encoding for the corresponding receptor. An increased level of c-sis RNA, which encodes the B chain of platelet derived growth factor, was also found. Diffuse reticulonodular infiltrates on the chest radiograph resolved with glucocorticoid treatment and CD-1/OKT-6 antigen positive histiocytes fell to 3%. Macrophage colony stimulating factor, c-fms and c-sis gene expression were reduced almost to normal after treatment. The results suggest that macrophage colony stimulating factor and platelet derived growth factor may have a role in the initiation or maintenance of pathological reactions in pulmonary histiocytosis X.
Barth
J
J
Department of Medicine, University of Kiel, Germany.
Kreipe
H
H
Radzun
H J
HJ
Heidorn
K
K
Petermann
W
W
Bewig
B
B
Parwaresch
M R
MR
D000328:Adult; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology*; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics*
D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor