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Objective To investigate the proliferation potential of the basal stem cells in intralobar pulmonary sequestration syndrome (ILS) for revealing the pathogenesis of ILS. Methods In this study, lung tissue samples were collected from healthy control subjects(n=4)and abnormal lung lobes of ILS patients(n=4).The pathological changes were compared by HE staining between the two groups.The proportion of goblet cells was compared by PAS staining between the two groups.The expression and secretion of MUC5AC and MUC5B were compared by immunofluorescence staining and real-time PCR between the two groups. The distribution of ciliated cells and the proliferation of basal cells were compared by immunofluorescence staining between the two groups.Results The abnormal lobe of ILS group was filled with inflammatory cells, and the airway epithelium was disrupted. The airway goblet cells of ILS were obviously hyperplastic. The mucin proteins of MUC5AC and MUC5B were hypersecretion in the abnormal lobe of ILS patients.KRT5-positive basal stem cells proliferated only slightly in ILS patients, although there was no significant difference in KRT5 expression between two groups. Conclusion These data suggest that the pathogenesis of ILS may be associated with defects in basal stem cell function. Restoring airway integrity by targeting epithelial regeneration can be a future non-surgical treatment for patients with ILS.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is a key element of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that can lead to disorders in the liver. In this study, IH was established in a rat model to examine its effects on the expression of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) and CYP regulators, including nuclear receptors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Hematoxylin and eosin staining was conducted to analyze the general pathology of the liver of rats exposed to IH. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, CYPs, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and nuclear factors in the liver were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We found inflammatory infiltrates in the liver of rats exposed to IH. The mRNA expression level of interleukin-1beta was increased in the liver of the IH-exposed rats (0.005 ± 0.001 vs. 0.038 ± 0.008, P = 0.042), whereas the mRNA expression level of Cyp1a2 was downregulated (0.022 ± 0.002 vs. 0.0050 ± 0.0002, P = 0.029). The hepatic level of transcription factor NF-κB was also reduced in the IH group relative to that in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant and was parallel to the expression of the pregnane X receptor and constitutive androstane receptor. However, the decreased expression of the glucocorticoid receptor upon IH treatment was statistically significant (0.056 ± 0.012 vs. 0.032 ± 0.005, P = 0.035).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These results indicate a decrease in expression of hepatic CYPs and their regulator GR in rats exposed to IH. Therefore, this should be noted for patients on medication, especially those on drugs metabolized via the hepatic system, and close attention should be paid to the liver function of patients with OSA-associated IH.</p>
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) often develops in transplant patients and results in injury to the respiratory and terminal airway epithelium. Owing to its rising incidence, the pathogenesis of BOS is currently an area of intensive research. Studies have shown that injury to the respiratory epithelium results in dysregulation of epithelial repair. Airway epithelial regeneration is supported by stromal cells, including fibroblasts. This study aimed to investigate whether the supportive role of lung fibroblasts is altered in BOS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Suspensions of lung cells were prepared by enzyme digestion. Lung progenitor cells (LPCs) were separated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Lung fibroblasts from patients with BOS or healthy controls were mixed with sorted mouse LPCs to compare the colony-forming efficiency of LPCs by counting the number of colonies with a diameter of ≥50 μm in each culture. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 17.0 software (SPSS Inc., USA). The paired Student's t-test was used to test for statistical significance.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>LPCs were isolated with the surface phenotype of CD31-CD34-CD45- EpCAM+Sca-1+. The colony-forming efficiency of LPCs was significantly reduced when co-cultured with fibroblasts isolated from patients with BOS. The addition of SB431542 increased the colony-forming efficiency of LPCs to 1.8%; however, it was still significantly less than that in co-culture with healthy control fibroblasts (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The epithelial-supportive capacity of fibroblasts is impaired in the development of BOS and suggest that inefficient repair of airway epithelium could contribute to persistent airway inflammation in BOS.</p>