Endothelin-1 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

AIMS--To evaluate whether endothelin-1 is involved in the pathology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). METHODS--Plasma endothelin-1 concentrations were evaluated in 37 patients with IPF and 27 normal controls by radioimmunoassay. In addition, expression of endothelin-1 in lung tissue was evalua...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of clinical pathology 1995-04, Vol.48 (4), p.330-334
Main Authors: Uguccioni, M, Pulsatelli, L, Grigolo, B, Facchini, A, Fasano, L, Cinti, C, Fabbri, M, Gasbarrini, G, Meliconi, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Endothelins - analysis
Endothelins - blood
Endothelium - chemistry
Epithelium - chemistry
Female
Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Macrophages - chemistry
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Pneumology
Pulmonary Fibrosis - blood
Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases
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Summary:AIMS--To evaluate whether endothelin-1 is involved in the pathology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). METHODS--Plasma endothelin-1 concentrations were evaluated in 37 patients with IPF and 27 normal controls by radioimmunoassay. In addition, expression of endothelin-1 in lung tissue was evaluated in biopsy specimens obtained from four patients with IPF. Three biopsy specimens of normal lung were used as controls. Endothelin-1 immunoreactivity was detected using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS--Elevated endothelin-1 plasma concentrations were found in patients with IPF compared with controls and a positive correlation was found with duration of disease. No significant difference was observed between treated and untreated patients with IPF. Increased endothelin-1 immunoreactivity was found in lungs of three of four patients with IPF. Endothelin-1 positive consisted mainly of small vessel endothelial cells. Some scattered macrophages were also positive. CONCLUSIONS--Elevated plasma concentrations and expression of endothelin-1 in lung tissue are suggestive of increased production of endothelin-1 in at least a proportion of patients with IPF. Consequently, endothelin-1 activity could play a role in the fibrogenic process of the disease.
ISSN:0021-9746
1472-4146
DOI:10.1136/jcp.48.4.330