Lung fibroblast repair functions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are altered by multiple mechanisms.
BACKGROUND
Fibroblasts are believed to be the major cells responsible for the production and maintenance of extracellular matrix. Alterations in fibroblast functional capacity, therefore, could play a role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema, which is characterized by inadequate maintenance of tissue structure.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the hypothesis that deficient fibroblast repair characterizes cells obtained from individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared with control subjects.


METHODS
Fibroblasts were cultured from lung tissue obtained from individuals undergoing thoracotomy and were characterized in vitro.


RESULTS
Fibroblasts from individuals with COPD, defined by reduced FEV(1), manifested reduced chemotaxis toward fibronectin and reduced contraction of three-dimensional collagen gels, two bioassays associated with fibroblast repair function. At least two mechanisms appear to account for these differences. Prostaglandin E (PGE), a known inhibitor of fibroblast repair functions, was produced in increased amount by fibroblasts from subjects with COPD, which also expressed increased amounts of the receptors EP2 and EP4, both of which signal through cyclic AMP. Incubation of fibroblasts with indomethacin or with the PKA inhibitor KT-5720 partially restored COPD subject fibroblast function. In addition, fibroblasts from subjects with COPD produced more transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, but manifested reduced response to TGF-beta1. The functional alterations in fibroblasts correlated with both lung function assessed by FEV(1) and, for the data available, with severity of emphysema assessed by Dl(CO).


CONCLUSIONS
Fibroblasts from individuals with COPD have reduced capability to sustain tissue repair, which suggests that this may be one mechanism that contributes to the development of emphysema.
Togo
Shinsaku
S
University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985885 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5885, USA.
Holz
Olaf
O
Liu
Xiangde
X
Sugiura
Hisatoshi
H
Kamio
Koichiro
K
Wang
Xiangqi
X
Kawasaki
Shin
S
Ahn
Youngsoo
Y
Fredriksson
Karin
K
Skold
C Magnus
CM
Mueller
Kai Christian
KC
Branscheid
Detlef
D
Welker
Lutz
L
Watz
Henrik
H
Magnussen
Helgo
H
Rennard
Stephen I
SI
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000502:physiology*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D015232:Dinoprostone