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MAP kinase activation and apoptosis in lung tissues from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Author(s) -
Yoshida Koichiro,
Kuwano Kazuyoshi,
Hagimoto Naoki,
Watanabe Kentaro,
Matsuba Tokuji,
Fujita Masaki,
Inoshima Ichiro,
Hara Nobuyuki
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1208
Subject(s) - idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis , lung , tunel assay , mapk/erk pathway , kinase , cancer research , fibrosis , pathology , pulmonary fibrosis , medicine , p38 mitogen activated protein kinases , inflammation , biology , immunohistochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
Three major MAP kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), c‐jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 kinase (p38 MAPK), are involved in the regulation of lung inflammation and injury. This study investigated whether MAPKs are activated and associated with lung injury in lung tissues from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The expression of the active ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK was examined using western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry and apoptosis was also examined by the TUNEL method, in lung tissues from ten patients with IPF obtained by thoracoscopic biopsy and in eight normal lung parenchyma specimens obtained by lobectomy for lung cancer. Activated MAPKs are significantly increased in lung homogenates from patients with IPF compared with controls. Activated ERK in epithelial and endothelial cells, but not in fibroblasts or smooth muscle cells, was decreased, accompanied by the progression of fibrosis. Activated JNK in epithelial and endothelial cells, but not in fibroblasts, was increased, accompanied by the progression of fibrosis. Activated p38 MAPK in epithelial, endothelial, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts was increased at the intermediate stage of fibrosis, in which the TUNEL‐positive cells were predominantly detected. This is the first study to suggest that MAPKs may be associated with the regulation of inflammation and lung injury in IPF. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.