Changes in cytokeratin, vimentin and desmoplakin distribution during the repair of irradiation-induced lung injury in adult rats.
The expression of cytokeratins, desmoplakin and vimentin has been studied immunohistochemically in the rat lung injured by x-irradiation using 14 well characterized monoclonal antibodies. A time-dependent relationship between the cytokeratin expression pattern and the morphological alterations observed was apparent. A cytokeratin 8 and 18 expression in normally cytokeratectable even at 3-6 h after irradiation. Between 14 days and 2 months, a remarkable heterogeneity in the epithelial cell cytokeratin pattern and an increasing immunoreaction for desmoplakin was found. In terminal bronchial epithelial cells, a heterogeneous CK8, 18 and 19 staining and a neoexpression of cytokeratins 4 and 7 was detected. Finally, peribronchiolar and vascular smooth muscle cells were cytokeratin-positive. At 6 months after irradiation, cytokeratin 13 and vimentin were focally present in bronchial epithelial cells and atypical type I and II pneumocytes as well as scattered epithelioid cell complexes were noted. During the course of injury, a loss of type III alveolar epithelial cells was found, which was characterized in the rat by a specific globular cytokeratin pattern and restricted immunoreactivity with cytokeratin-specific antibodies. These results show that the expression pattern of cytokeratins is a sensitive marker in monitoring epithelial alterations during lung injury.
Kasper
M
M
Institute of Pathology, Medical Academy Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Germany.
Rudolf
T
T
Haase
M
M
Schuh
D
D
Müller
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051180:Desmoplakins; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism*
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051180:Desmoplakins; D014746:Vimentin; D007633:Keratins