Abstract
Background: The respiratory system is one of the main entrance gates for infection. The aim of this work was to compare the appearance of specific mucosal pro-inflammatory and common anti-microbial defence factors in healthy lung tissue, from an ontogenetic point of view. Materials and methods: Healthy lung tissues were collected from 15 patients (three females and 12 males) in the age range from 18 to 86. Immunohistochemistry to human β defensin 2 (HBD-2), human β defensin 3 (HBD-3), human β defensin 4 (HBD-4), cathelicidine (LL-37) and interleukine 17A (IL-17A) were performed. Results: The lung tissue material contained bronchial and lung parenchyma material in which no histological changes, connected with the inflammatory process, were detected. During the study, various statistically significant differences were detected in immunoreactive expression between different factors in all lung tissue structures. Conclusion: All healthy lung structures, but especially the cartilage, alveolar epithelium and the alveolar macrophages, are the main locations for the baseline synthesis of antimicrobial proteins and IL-17A. Cartilage shows high functional plasticity of this structure, including significant antimicrobial activity and participation in local lung protection response. Interrelated changes between antimicrobial proteins in different tissue confirm baseline synergistical cooperation of all these factors in healthy lung host defence.
Highlights
The respiratory system is one of the main entrance gates for infection, so it is important for the organism to complement it with several innate host defence components
Immunohistochemical (IMH) Data The highest expression of human beta defensin 2 (HBD-2) was observed in cartilage where mainly a moderate number of positive structures was detected (Table 1, Figure 1)
HBD-2 was present in a few to moderate number of alveolar macrophages and alveolar epithelium (Table 1), A few positive structures of HBD-2 appeared in connective tissue and bronchial epithelium (Table 1, Figure 1)
Summary
The respiratory system is one of the main entrance gates for infection, so it is important for the organism to complement it with several innate host defence components. Lungs have a huge surface and at the same time the alveolar epithelium is very thin and delicate, in order to be able to provide the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide [1]. Such a structure increases risk of developing an infection in the lungs and spreading the infection throughout the whole organism. Conclusion: All healthy lung structures, but especially the cartilage, alveolar epithelium and the alveolar macrophages, are the main locations for the baseline synthesis of antimicrobial proteins and IL-17A. Interrelated changes between antimicrobial proteins in different tissue confirm baseline synergistical cooperation of all these factors in healthy lung host defence
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