title: Decreased expression of TGF-beta type II receptor in bronchial glands of smokers with COPD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is still controversial, but it has been proposed that it may protect from mucus hypersecretion since it is able to downregulate mucin production. A study was undertaken to investigate the expression of TGF-beta1 and its type II receptor (TGF-beta RII) in the bronchial glands of smokers with COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of TGF-beta(1) and TGF-beta RII were examined immunohistochemically in the bronchial glands of 24 smokers undergoing lung resection for solitary peripheral nodules: 12 with airflow limitation (smokers with COPD) and 12 with normal lung function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of TGF-beta1 in bronchial glands was similar in the two groups of subjects while that of TGF-beta RII was lower in smokers with COPD than in smokers with normal lung function (p=0.004). TGF-beta RII expression was inversely correlated with the values of Reid's index, a measure of gland size (p=0.02, r=-0.50).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the bronchial glands of smokers with COPD there is decreased expression of TGF-beta RII which is associated with bronchial gland enlargement. These findings support the view that the absence of TGF-beta signalling may induce structural changes in the bronchial glands which, in turn, may promote mucus hypersecretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Section of Respiratory Diseases, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baraldo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bazzan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turato
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Beghé
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maestrelli
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zuin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saetta
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001980:Bronchi / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II