title: Increased expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in patients with different forms of lung fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emerging evidence supports the role of epidermal growth factor-receptor (EGFR) in fibrogenesis. The aim of our study was to investigate the expression profiles of EGFR in three forms of IIPs, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty newly diagnosed patients with IPF, 15 with COP, and 15 with NSIP (cellular, n = 4 and fibrotic, n = 11) were investigated. Fifteen paraffin blocks obtained from the normal part of lungs removed for benign lesions were used as controls. Immunohistochemistry was carried out using specific monoclonal antibody. Results were verified by qRT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant EGFR upregulation, both in protein and mRNA level, was observed in IPF, COP, and fibrotic NSIP samples compared to controls. EGFR was primarily localized in the hyperplastic alveolar epithelium surrounding areas of fibrosis in IPF, COP, and fibrotic NSIP samples, as assessed by double immunohistochemistry analysis with surfactant protein-A. EGFR mRNA levels were positively associated with indicators of lung fibrosis (type 1 collagen mRNA levels) and negatively correlated with functional prognostic parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that EGFR is upregulated in the hyperplastic alveolar epithelium in all three fibrotic forms of IIPs indicating a potential role during abnormal reepithelization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumonology, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Medical school, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece. atzouvelekis@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Argyris
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tzouvelekis
authors.forename: Paschalis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ntolios
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karameris
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vilaras
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boglou
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koulelidis
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Archontogeorgis
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaltsas
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zacharis
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sarikloglou
authors.forename: Paschalis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steiropoulos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mikroulis
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koutsopoulos
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Froudarakis
authors.forename: Demosthenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bouros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018549:Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors