title: Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-8 and -9 in bronchiectatic airways in vivo.
abstract: The progressive bronchial dilatation in bronchiectasis is likely to be the result of continued airway matrix destruction, although little is known about the role of neutrophil matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in this process. Immunohistochemistry has been used to investigate the expression and cellular localisation of MMP-8 and MMP-9 in bronchiectatic airways in vivo. Endobronchial biopsies were taken from 25 bronchiectatic patients, and from the right lower lobe in 14 control subjects. MMP-8, MMP-9, neutrophils and macrophages were stained with monoclonal antibodies and quantified as positive cell x mm(-2) of the lamina propria by using an image analysis system. There were significantly higher densities of MMP-8 and MMP-9 positive cells in the lamina propria of bronchiectatic than control airways. In bronchiectatic airways, the densities of MMP-8 and MMP-9 positive cells correlated with each other and with neutrophil density, but not with macrophage density. In control airways, a significant correlation was found between MMP-8 with neutrophil and MMP-9 with macrophage densities. An overexpression of neutrophil matrix metalloproteinases in bronchiectatic airways could help explain the continuation of airway destruction in bronchiectasis. In view of the clinical availability of matrix metalloproteinase antagonists, the results presented here could have a significant impact on the development of novel therapies of this untreatable disease.
authors.affiliation: University Dept of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Tipoe
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Shum
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Tsang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001980:Bronchi / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
chemical_list: D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9