RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Increased expression of growth factor genes for macrophages and fibroblasts in bronchoalveolar lavage cells of a patient with pulmonary histiocytosis X.
JF Thorax
JO Thorax
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Thoracic Society
SP 835
OP 838
DO 10.1136/thx.46.11.835
VO 46
IS 11
A1 Barth, J
A1 Kreipe, H
A1 Radzun, H J
A1 Heidorn, K
A1 Petermann, W
A1 Bewig, B
A1 Parwaresch, M R
YR 1991
UL http://thorax.bmj.com/content/46/11/835.abstract
AB Pulmonary histiocytosis X is the local manifestation of a systemic disorder of unknown cause characterised by infiltration of Langerhans cell like histiocytes and parenchymal fibrosis. In a male smoker with histologically proved histiocytosis X and functional impairment bronchoalveolar lavage showed an increase in CD-1/OKT-6 antigen positive histiocytes to 8%. Northern blot analysis of RNA from bronchoalveolar lavage cells showed an exaggerated expression of the M-CSF gene and of the c-fms gene encoding for the corresponding receptor. An increased level of c-sis RNA, which encodes the B chain of platelet derived growth factor, was also found. Diffuse reticulonodular infiltrates on the chest radiograph resolved with glucocorticoid treatment and CD-1/OKT-6 antigen positive histiocytes fell to 3%. Macrophage colony stimulating factor, c-fms and c-sis gene expression were reduced almost to normal after treatment. The results suggest that macrophage colony stimulating factor and platelet derived growth factor may have a role in the initiation or maintenance of pathological reactions in pulmonary histiocytosis X.