Localisation of a low-molecular-weight bronchial protease inhibitor in the peripheral human lung.
The localisation of a low-molecular-weight bronchial protease inhibitor (LMI) in human peripheral lung tissue was studied by an immunohistochemical method. This inhibitor was found exclusively in a part of the non-ciliated cell population of the bronchiolar epithelium. An inverse relationship was observed between the number of LMI-positive non-ciliated cells per millimetre of basement membrane and the bronchiolar diameter. These findings may have a bearing on the protease-antiprotease theory of the development of pulmonary emphysema, LMI possibly playing a part in the protection of peripheral lung tissue against proteolytic destruction by enzymes liberated from granulocytes or migrating alveolar macrophages.
D001980:Bronchi / Q000032:analysis* / Q000166:cytology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000032:analysis; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis*
D011480:Protease Inhibitors