Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
2008-2-26
pubmed:abstractText
Parenchymal destruction, airspace enlargement, and loss of elasticity are hallmarks of pulmonary emphysema. Although the basic mechanism is unknown, there is a consensus that malfunctioning of the extracellular matrix is a major contributor to the pathogenesis of emphysema. In this study, we analyzed the expression of the elastic fiber protein fibrillin-1 in a large number (n=69) of human lung specimens with early-onset emphysema. Specimens were morphologically characterized by the Destructive Index, the Mean Linear Intercept, and the Panel Grading. We observed a strong correlation (P<0.001) of aberrant fibrillin-1 staining with the degree of destruction of lung parenchyma (r=0.71), airspace enlargement (r=0.47), and emphysema-related morphological abnormalities (r=0.69). There were no obvious correlations with age and smoking behavior. Staining for three other extracellular matrix components (type I collagen, type IV collagen, and laminin) was not affected. The aberrant fibrillin-1 staining observed in this study is similar to that observed in Marfan syndrome, a syndrome caused by mutations in the gene encoding fibrillin-1. Strikingly, emphysema is noticed in a number of Marfan patients. This, together with the notion that disruption of the fibrillin-1 gene in mice results in emphysematous lesions, makes fibrillin-1 a strong candidate to be involved in the etiology and pathogenesis of emphysema.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Mar
pubmed:issn
0893-3952
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
21
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
297-307
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2008
pubmed:articleTitle
Aberrant fibrillin-1 expression in early emphysematous human lung: a proposed predisposition for emphysema.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Biochemistry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen Center for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't