title: Altered compartmentalization of transforming growth factor-beta in asthmatic airways.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma is characterized by alterations of the bronchial epithelium associated with inflammatory cell infiltrates and sub-epithelial fibrosis. Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) is an anti-inflammatory and fibrosing cytokine normally present in bronchial epithelial cells and also potentially produced by inflammatory cells. Thus, TGF-beta could play a role in the asthmatic process, and its expression could be modified in asthmatic airways.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test this latter hypothesis, we studied the bronchial distribution of TGF-beta in asthmatic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  TGF-beta 1, 2, 3 distribution was studied by immunohistochemistry in bronchial biopsies from 12 asthmatic patients and 10 non-asthmatic subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bronchial epithelial cells from asthmatics were negative or faintly positive while a bright staining was detected in these from non-asthmatics (P < 0.01). In both groups, when inflammatory cells were present beneath the basement membrane, they were stained by the anti-TGF-beta antibody.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows an altered compartimentalization of TGF-beta in asthma. (a) TGF-beta is scarse in asthmatic bronchial epithelial cells, which could favour the perennization of the bronchial inflammation, and (b) TGF-beta is present in inflammatory cells beneath the basement membrane, where it could be involved in the frequent sub-epithelial fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Chest Medicine and Allergology Department, Ste-Marguerite Hospital, Lille, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magnan
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Retornaz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsicopoulos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brisse
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Pee
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gosset
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chamlian
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Tonnel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vervloet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta