Increased levels of interleukin 27 in patients with early clinical stages of non-small cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION    Interleukin 27 (IL‑27) is a cytokine secreted mostly by antigen‑presenting cells. It is important for the immune polarization of T helper‑1 (Th1) cells, and its role in interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) and lung cancer has been investigated. OBJECTIVES    We assessed IL‑27 expression in the lower airways of patients with selected ILDs and early‑stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Studies of hepatocyte growth factor in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in chronic interstitial lung diseases.

Introduction:  Previous studies have suggested that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) inhibits lung fibrosis as an antagonist of transforming growth factor β (TGF‑β).

Objectives:  We assessed HGF expression levels in the lower airways of patients with selected interstitial lung diseases.

Patients And Methods:  HGF levels were examined by an enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid supernatants from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS, n = 52), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF, n = 23), nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP, n = 14), extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA, n = 6), bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP, n = 8), chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (EP, n = 6), and in control subjects (n = 13).

[Viral transfer of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in gene therapy].

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) selectively induces carcinoma cell death through the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Preclinical trials of gene therapy have been conducted using viral transfer of the TRAIL transgene into prostate, bladder, breast, kidney, liver, non-small cell lung cancer and also glioblastoma cells. Experiments in vitro demonstrated the extensive apoptosis of target cells as well as frequent disease regression or remission.

[Apoptosis of alveolar lymphocytes. Part 1: pathways of lymphocyte apoptosis].

Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death essential for maintaining homeostasis, including onset, progress and resolution of immune reactions. Two major apoptosis pathways: extrinsic (mediated by death receptors) and intrinsic (mitochondrial), were distinguished. Lymphocytes with cytotoxic activity may also initiate apoptosis of target cells by granzyme/perforin (pseudoreceptor) pathway.

[Higher incidence of alveolar lymphocytes (AL) apoptosis in smokers depends on BCL-2 expression and specific response to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha). Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) material analysis from selected interstitial lung diseases (ILD) and healthy controls].

Background: We have previously described the increased apoptosis rate in smokers alveolar lymphocytes (AL) that was independent from the FASL/ FAS system activation. Consequently, the role of intrinsic apoptosis pathway and other ligand/death receptor pairs as TNFalpha/TNFR1 and TRAIL/DR4 important for apoptosis regulation should be considered in this phenomenon. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of tobacco consumption on expression of selected BCL-2 family members and ligand/receptors pairs in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) harvested from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and healthy volunteers.