title: Clara cell protein-positive epithelial cells are reduced in small airways of asthmatics.
abstract: Clara cell 10 kilodalton protein (CC10), the predominant product from nonciliated cells in the epithelial lining of bronchioles (Clara cells), has been shown to have immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity, and may play roles in controlling inflammation in the airway. This study was designed to examine immunohistochemical expression of CC10 in epithelial cells in small airways (perimeter < 6 mm) of asthmatic and control nonsmokers who underwent lung resection because of peripheral lung carcinoma and to compare CC10-positive epithelial cell proportions with numbers of inflammatory cells in small airways of asthmatics. Significantly decreased proportions of CC10-positive epithelial cells and significantly increased numbers of T cells, activated eosinophils, and mast cells in small airways of asthmatics were found compared with those of control subjects. CC10-positive epithelial cell proportions inversely correlated with numbers of T cells and mast cells in small airways of asthmatics. Decreases of CC10-producing cells may give an accelerating cause for further aggravation of inflammatory responses in chronic asthma.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shijubo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirasawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abe
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011506:Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014598:Uteroglobin
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; C556389:SCGB1A1 protein, human; D014598:Uteroglobin