Eotaxin mRNA Expression in Bronchial Mucosa of Patients with Asthma / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by a marked infiltration of ecsinophils in the bronchial mucosa. Asthmatic bronchial muosa produces many factors described as king chernotaetic for inflammatory cells. IL-5, RANTES, and MCP-1 alpha are the chemotactic factors for eosinophils, but their roles are controversiaL Recently eotaxin that is a potent eosinophil chernoattracttnt cytokine was detected in a guinea-pig model of allergic airway inflammation, and human eotaxin was cloned. Eotaxin is a specific chemoattractant for eosinophils, but its role in asthma is not confirmed. We examined the in vivo expression of a,taxin in bronchi of asthmatic patients. METHODS: 11 asthmatics and 2 normal controls were enrolled. All subjects were underwent brcnchcscopy with bronchial biopsies in 2nd or 3rd carina. RNA extraction from biopsy samples was done by acid-guanidium method. Semi-quantitaive RT-PCR was done for evaluation of eotaxin mRNA expression. The extent of eosinophil infiltrartion was evaluated by counting the eosinophils in submucosa in HPF of microscope. RESULTS: Eotaxin mRNA expressed in symptomatic, uncontrolled asthma. Steroid inhibited expression of eotaxin mRNA in asthma. Expression of eotaxin mRNA correlated with eosinohil infiltration in bronchial tissues. CONCLUISON: Expression of eotaxin mRNA increases in uncontrolled asthma and eotaxin is involved in the recruitment of eosinophils.

TGF-beta-1 Expression and p53 Mutation in Non-small Cell Carcinomas of the Lung / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: TGF-beta-1 is actually a major growth inhibitor for most cell types. We assumed that the loss of TGF-beta-1 would be occurred during carcinogenesis of the lung. Also, the mutation and expression of p53 have been known to be major moleclar change of non-small cell carcinoma of the lung. So, the relationship between the mutation of p53 and the expression of TGF-beta-1 in the non-small cell carcinomas were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 43 non-small cell carcinoma and normal tissue of the lung, their TGF-beta-1 mRNA were measured by RT-PCR and p53 was studied by SSCP and Western blotting assay. RESULTS: p53 mutation rate in non-small cell carcinomas of the lung (48.4%) was much more frequent than the normal control group (14.3%). The expression rate of TGF-beta-1 in lung carcinomas, especially squamous cell carcinoma (71.4%), was much higher than the normal control group (42.9%). p53 mutation and TGF-beta-1 mRNA in the lung carcinomas were not strongly correlated. CONCLUSION: It suggests that high expression rate of TGF-beta-1 and p53 mutation are associated with carcinogenesis of non-small cell carcinoma of the lung. High expression rate of TGF-beta-1 in the lung carcinomas can be partly explained by the fact that TGF-beta-1 have capacity to control the production of many components of the extracellular matrix and enhance angiogenesis in favor of tumor growth despite of their inhibitory effects of cell growth. However, additional research is required to determine the exact role of TGF-beta-1 in carcinogenesis of the lung.