Endothelin-1 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
AIMS--To evaluate whether endothelin-1 is involved in the pathology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). METHODS--Plasma endothelin-1 concentrations were evaluated in 37 patients with IPF and 27 normal controls by radioimmunoassay. In addition, expression of endothelin-1 in lung tissue was evaluated in biopsy specimens obtained from four patients with IPF. Three biopsy specimens of normal lung were used as controls. Endothelin-1 immunoreactivity was detected using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS--Elevated endothelin-1 plasma concentrations were found in patients with IPF compared with controls and a positive correlation was found with duration of disease. No significant difference was observed between treated and untreated patients with IPF. Increased endothelin-1 immunoreactivity was found in lungs of three of four patients with IPF. Endothelin-1 positive consisted mainly of small vessel endothelial cells. Some scattered macrophages were also positive. CONCLUSIONS--Elevated plasma concentrations and expression of endothelin-1 in lung tissue are suggestive of increased production of endothelin-1 in at least a proportion of patients with IPF. Consequently, endothelin-1 activity could play a role in the fibrogenic process of the disease.
Uguccioni
M
M
Laboratorio di Immunologia e Genetica, Instituto di Ricerca Codivilla Putti, Italy.
Pulsatelli
L
L
Grigolo
B
B
Facchini
A
A
Fasano
L
L
Cinti
C
C
Fabbri
M
M
Gasbarrini
G
G
Meliconi
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016232:Endothelins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D004727:Endothelium / Q000737:chemistry; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008264:Macrophages / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000097:blood
D016232:Endothelins