Biomolecular analysis of matrix proteoglycans as biomarkers in non small cell lung cancer.

Matrix proteoglycans (PGs) have shown promise as biomarker in malignancies. We employed agarose gel eletrophoresis, quantitative real- time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry to evaluate the content of sulfated glicosaminoglycans (chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate) and expression of PG (biglycan, glypican, perlecan, syndecan e versican) in patient-matched normal and tumor tissues obtained from resected specimens of lung cancer. A significant increase of heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) concentrations was found in tumor tissue samples when compared to normal lung tissue samples.

Intranasal Administration of Type V Collagen Reduces Lung Carcinogenesis through Increasing Endothelial and Epithelial Apoptosis in a Urethane-Induced Lung Tumor Model.

Type V collagen (Col V) is a "minor" component of normal lung extracellular matrix, which is subjected to decreased and abnormal synthesis in human lung infiltrating adenocarcinoma. We previously reported that a direct link between low amounts of Col V and decreased cell apoptosis may favor cancer cell growth in the mouse lung after chemical carcinogenesis. Moreover, this collagen species was able to trigger DNA fragmentation and impair survival of neoplastic cells.

The Th17 pathway in the peripheral lung microenvironment interacts with expression of collagen V in the late state of experimental pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Myofibroblasts derived from fibroblasts in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis causes excessive and disordered deposition of matrix proteins, including collagen V, which can cause a Th17-mediated immune response and lead to apoptosis. However, whether the intrinsic ability of lung FBs to produce the matrix depends on their site-specific variations is not known.

Aim: To investigate the link between Th17 and collagen V that maintains pulmonary remodeling in the peripheral lung microenvironment during the late stage of experimental pulmonary fibrosis.

Usual interstitial pneumonia and smoking-related interstitial fibrosis display epithelial to mesenchymal transition in fibroblastic foci.

Background: Fibroblastic foci (FF) are a major histological feature of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and collagen vascular diseases (non-IPF). In addition, FF are occasionally associated with smoking-related interstitial fibrosis (SRIF). Recent studies have suggested a role for epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in pulmonary fibrogenesis.

Immunohistochemical and morphometric evaluation of COX 1 and COX-2 in the remodeled lung in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and systemic sclerosis.

Objective: To study the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in the remodeled lung in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients, correlating that expression with patient survival.

Methods: We examined open lung biopsy specimens from 24 SSc patients and 30 IPF patients, using normal lung tissue as a control. The histological patterns included fibrotic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) in SSc patients and usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) in IPF patients.

The effects of chronic exposure to traffic derived air pollution on the ocular surface.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical relevance of chronic exposure to ambient levels of traffic derived air pollution on the ocular surface.

Methods: A panel study involving 55 volunteers was carried out in São Paulo, Brazil. We measured the mean individual levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) exposure for 7 days.