title: Overexpression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and TGF-beta3 genes in lung of toxic-inhaled patients.
abstract: Iraq frequently used toxic inhalants during the war with Iran, exposing over 100,000 people to chemical reagents. Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is a major pulmonary disease caused by exposure to harmful gases. Recently defect in clearance of apoptotic cells (efferocytosis) has been suggested as a mechanism that leads to several lung diseases. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, a cytokine produced by efferocytotic macrophages, suppresses the inflammation and enhances the regeneration of tissue. In this study, the authors compared the expression of these 3 isoforms of TGF-beta at mRNA level in lung biopsies of Iranian victims of chemical gases with lung biopsies of control healthy volunteers. Semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique was used to examine the expression level of TGF-beta isoforms using glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene as an internal control. The results indicated that that levels of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta3 mRNAs were significantly higher in chemical gas-injured patients than noninjured group (P < .05). Therefore, the authors speculate that TGF-beta1 and TGFbeta3, but not TGF-beta2, secretion is a result of efficient efferocytosis in chemically injured patients, playing a protective role by improving airway remodeling and lung homeostasis in this group. These properties of TGF-beta are consistent with long-time survival of chemical-injured people suffering from BO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Aref Arzan
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zarin
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behmanesh
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tavallaei
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shohrati
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghanei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D001706:Biopsy; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D007492:Iran; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000633:toxicity*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics*; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3 / Q000235:genetics*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014797:Vital Capacity; D014857:Warfare
chemical_list: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; C509044:TGFB3 protein, human; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3; D009151:Mustard Gas