Validation of endobronchial biopsy specimens for nerve quantitation by computer-assisted image analysis.
The aim of this study was to assess the validity of endoscopic bronchial biopsy specimens for the quantitation of nerves. To this end, endobronchial biopsy was simulated ex vivo on surgically resected lung specimens and nerve densities were compared in airway smooth muscle of biopsy and surrounding tissue. Specimens were stained immunohistochemically for the general neural marker protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) and for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and nerve densities were quantitated using computer-assisted image analysis. Nerve density for total (PGP 9.5-immunoreactive) nerves was slightly higher in biopsies than in corresponding lung tissue, but this difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.08). There was also no significant difference in the density of VIP-immunoreactive nerves (p=0.60). These findings support the use of endobronchial biopsy specimens to quantitate nerves in asthma and other airway diseases.
Jesenik
F
F
Department of Histochemistry, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN, UK.
Springall
D R
DR
Redington
A E
AE
Doré
C J
CJ
Abrams
D C
DC
Holgate
S T
ST
Howarth
P H
PH
Polak
J M
JM
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D001980:Bronchi / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase