[Expression and significance of severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-X4 protein in lungs of SARS patients].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the significance of severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-X4 protein expression in lungs of patients with SARS.


METHODS
Pathological features of the lungs from 4 SARS patients were examined and the expression of SARS-CoV-X4 protein in the lungs was evaluated with immunohistochemical staining using specific antibodies against protein X4.


RESULTS
Microscopically, all lungs from 4 cases showed edema, erythrocyte and fibrin exudates in the alveoli, hyperplasia of alveolar epithelium, necrosis, hyaline membrane formation and fibroblast foci. Immunohistochemical stains showed a strong positivity of X4 protein in denudation cells, vascular endothelial cells and also erythrocytes and neutrophils in the alveoli of the lung tissues from the 4 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of SARS-CoV-X4 protein in the lungs may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of SARS.
Tan
Ya-xia
YX
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510120, China. yaxiatan@yahoo.com.cn
Chen
Tao
T
Zhong
Shu-qing
SQ
Li
Yi-min
YM
Chen
Ying-yu
YY
Qiu
Xiao-yan
XY
Mo
Xiao-ning
XN
Song
Quan-sheng
QS
Gan
Qi-ni
QN
Gu
Ying-ying
YY
Mo
Hong-ying
HY
Luo
Wei
W
He
Xin-ming
XM
Liu
Mu-chang
MC
Zhong
Nan-shan
NS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C488151:sars7a protein, SARS virus