title: Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors and their receptors in human lung emphysema.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors are key growth factors in the process of alveolar repair. We hypothesized that excessive alveolar destruction observed in lung emphysema involves impaired expression of hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors or their respective receptors, c-met and keratinocyte growth factor receptor. The aim of our study was to compare the expression of hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors and their receptors in lung samples from 3 groups of patients: emphysema; smokers without emphysema and non-smokers without emphysema.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factor proteins were analysed by immunoassay and western blot; mRNA expression was measured by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors, c-met and keratinocyte growth factor receptor mRNA levels were similar in emphysema and non-emphysema patients. Hepatocyte growth factor mRNA correlated negatively with FEV1 and the FEV1/FVC ratio both in emphysema patients and in smokers with or without emphysema. Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factor protein concentrations were similar in all patients' groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors and their receptors is preserved in patients with lung emphysema as compared to patients without emphysema. Hepatocyte growth factor mRNA correlates with the severity of airflow obstruction in smokers.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U 700, Faculté Xavier Bichat, Paris, France. marcel.bonay@bch.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonay
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boutten
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leçon-Malas
authors.forename: Joëlle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marchal
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leseche
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dehoux
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crestani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2; C065104:keratinocyte growth factor receptor