title: Factors influencing oxidative imbalance in pulmonary fibrosis: an immunohistochemical study.
abstract: Background. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease of unknown etiology characterized by interstitial fibrosis determining irreversible distortion of pulmonary architecture. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and markers of oxidative stress play a pivotal role in human IPF pathology, possibly through induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Methods. We investigated by immunohistochemistry, in UIP and COP tissue samples, the expression of most relevant markers of the molecular interplay involving RAGE, oxidant/antioxidant balance regulation, tissue nitrosylation, and mediators of EMT. Results. In both UIP and COP, the degree of RAGE expression was similarly high, while SODs and i-NOS, diffusely present in COP endoalveolar plugs, were almost absent in UIP fibroblast foci. A lower degree of tissue nitrosilation was observed in UIP than in COP. Conclusions. Fibroblast lesions of UIP and of COP share a similar degree of activation of RAGE, while antioxidant enzyme expression markedly reduced in UIP.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Disease, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inghilleri
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morbini
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zorzetto
authors.forename: Tiberio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oggionni
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luisetti