title: Expression of nerve growth factor and matrix metallopeptidase-9/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in asthmatic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to measure the level of nerve growth factor (NGF) in bronchial specimens from humans and to determine whether it correlated with not only clinical characteristics of asthma such as percent eosinophils, Th2 cytokine levels, and pulmonary function, but also metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three people participated; 42 had asthma. The participants underwent bronchoscopy and the specimens were analyzed. The participants' clinical data including pulmonary function tests were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with asthma had a significantly higher level of NGF compared with that from participants without asthma. NGF level showed a positive correlation with the percentage of eosinophils in both BALF and serum. The concentration of NGF did not correlate with that of Th2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in BALF or parameters of pulmonary function including degree of airway hyperresponsiveness (ARH). The levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in BALF were higher in asthma patients than in participants without asthma. The levels of NGF correlated with TIMP-1 levels but not with MMP-9 in the whole participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that NGF correlates with levels of eosinophils, a major effector cell in asthma. The high expression of NGF and TIMP-1 in asthma patients and the moderate correlation between NGF and TIMP-1 in the entire group of asthma subjects suggest a possible association between NGF and TIMP-1, which may influence asthma pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Sang
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jick Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Hea Yeon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seok Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Soon Seog
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Young Kyoon
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sook Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9