[Clinical significance of calcitonin expression in lung tissue with bronchiectasis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relation between the pathologic feature of bronchiectasis and the expression of calcitonin(CT) protein within pulmonary neuroendocrine cells(PNEC) in bronchiectasis.


METHODS
CT expression of PNEC was detected using immunohistochemistry(SP method) and quantitative analysis was completed by counting CT positive cell number on per 10 cm length of epithelium.


RESULTS
CT positive PNEC were found both at all levels of airway tree in all 37 cases of bronchiectasis and 10 cases of control, but none were found in alveolar ducts and alveoli. In bronchiectasis, CT positive PNEC was 67.59 +/- 10.57 per 10 cm length of epithelium, and in control group 5.48 +/- 1.06. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between bronchiectasis and control(P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
There was a high level CT expression in bronchiectasis. The PNEC hyperplasia may play a role in the chronic inflammation of bronchiectasis.
Yang
Y
Y
Department of Geriatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital, Hunan Medical University, Changsha 410011.
Zhang
X M
XM
Luo
J M
JM
D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*
D002116:Calcitonin