Abstract
Asthma and chronic bronchitis are associated with airway remodelling, and airway macrophages are present in bronchial inflammation. TGF-beta and fibronectin released by alveolar macrophages possess a fibrogenic potency. The potential role of alveolar macrophages in airway remodelling was studied in asthma and chronic bronchitis by the release of TGF-beta and fibronectin. Alveolar macrophages were isolated by bronchoalveolar lavage in 14 control subjects, 14 asthmatics and 14 chronic bronchitics. The spontaneous and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- or concanavalin A (Con A)-induced release of TGF-beta and fibronectin was measured by ELISA. Alveolar macrophages from chronic bronchitics spontaneously release greater amounts of TGF-beta and fibronectin than those from asthmatic and control subjects. Alveolar macrophages from asthmatics release greater amounts of TGF-beta and fibronectin than those from control subjects. The spontaneous release of TGF-beta is significantly correlated with that of fibronectin. Fibronectin release was significantly reduced after LPS stimulation, and TGF-beta release was significantly increased after LPS stimulation, except in chronic bronchitis patients. Con A increased the release of TGF-beta in cells from normal subjects. This study suggests that activated macrophages play a role in airway remodelling in chronic bronchitis and to a lesser extent in asthma.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
