The study of pulmonary fibrosis in severe acute respiratory syndrome / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe pulmonary fibrosis in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and to discuss the mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis in SARS. Methods Hematoxylin and Eosin staining (H&E), histology staining and immuno-histochemical staining (SP methods) were used to investigate the lungs from 4 autopsy cases. Antibodies against collagen type Ⅲ, ?-smooth muscle actin(?-SMA), Fas, FasL and transforming growth factor ?1(TGF-?1) were used for immunohistochemical studies. Results All these four lung tissues showed different degree of pulmonary fibrosis, including the organization of exudative fibrin, glomerulus-like fibrosis in alveolar spaces, the thickening of the alveolar septum, proliferation of fibroblasts, the hyperplasia of collagen fibers and the consolidation of lungs. Sirius red staining and collagen type Ⅲ staining showed the type Ⅲ and the type Ⅰ collagen fibers were the main components of the hyperplastic collagen fibers. ?-SMA were expressed in fibroblasts, immunoreactivity to Fas, FasL, TGF-?1 were all positive and located in plasma of pneumocytes, macrophages and lymphocytes. Conclusions The pulmonary fibrosis can be observed early in SARS patients and the pathogenesis may be involved in the co-effect of many effective cells, inflammatory mediators and cytokines.