[The changes of Clara cell in the distal conducting airways of patients with COPD].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of Clara cells in the pathogenesis of COPD.


METHODS
Lung samples of pneumonectomy were collected from 13 patients with COPD and 13 patients without COPD. They had similar age, sex and smoke index. The number and distribution of Clara cells were measured by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression and protein level of CC16 were determined by riboneuclease protection assay and Western blot separately.


RESULTS
The number of Clara cells of the respiratory brochioli was lower in patients with COPD than in those without COPD (16.4% vs. 18.5%, P < 0.05). The expression of CC16 mRNA was also lower in patients with COPD than those without COPD(0.28 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.45 +/- 0.05, P < 0.05). There was no obvious difference of CC16 protein level between these two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The changes of the number and function of Clara cell may be one of the factors in the development of COPD.
Zhang
H
H
Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Hospital of Beijing University, Beijing 100034, China.
He
B
B
Wang
X
X
D015153:Blotting, Western; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014598:Uteroglobin
D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C556389:SCGB1A1 protein, human; D014598:Uteroglobin