[Expression of human leukocyte antigen-DR in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR in the lungs of the patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and to explore the possible autoimmunity mechanisms of lung fibrosis.


METHODS
Methods Immunohistochemistry (SP method) was used to detect the expression of HLA-DR in the lung specimens from 10 IPF patients and in 5 specimens of normal lung tissue immediately adjacent to lung carcinomas as controls.


RESULTS
HLA-DR antigens were expressed in the hyperplastic bronchi-alveolar epithelial cells in IPF, but not in the epithelial cells of the normal control lung tissues. The accumulated positive scores of HLA-DR of the IPF group was 27, significantly higher than that of the control group (2, Z = - 3.002, P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Inappropriate HLA-DR expression is present in the bronchi -alveolar epithelium in IPF. Immune dysfunction may play an important role in the development of IPF.
Ni
Lian-fang
LF
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
Na
Jia
J
Deng
Rui
R
Wu
Rui
R
Liu
Xin-min
XM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens