Immunohistochemical study of matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in pulmonary Langerhans' cell granulomatosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in the pathogenesis of the lesions of pulmonary Langerhans' cell granulomatosis.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical and confocal microscopic studies were made of lung biopsy specimens from five patients with pulmonary Langerhans' cell granulomatosis.


RESULTS
The reactivity of Langerhans' cells was moderate to intense for MMP-2, weaker for MMP-9, and faint for TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. Type IV collagen colocalized with MMP-2 in areas of damage to epithelial basement membranes, a finding that emphasizes the potential importance of this enzyme in the pathogenesis of the destructive lesions of pulmonary Langerhans' cell granulomatosis. In the more advanced fibrotic lesions, TIMP-2 colocalized with basement membranes and with fibrillar collagen, suggesting that it contributes to the permanence of the fibrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate an important role for MMPs and TIMPs in pulmonary Langerhans' cell granulomatosis.
Hayashi
T
T
Pathology Section, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md 20892-1518, USA.
Rush
W L
WL
Travis
W D
WD
Liotta
L A
LA
Stetler-Stevenson
W G
WG
Ferrans
V J
VJ
D000328:Adult; D001485:Basement Membrane; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases
D006023:Glycoproteins; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D003094:Collagen; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases