Tuberc Respir Dis.  2002 Jan;52(1):37-45. 10.4046/trd.2002.52.1.37.

Relation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Expression to Goblet Cell Dysplasia in Diffuse Panbronchiolitis

• Jung KH
• Lee SH
• Kim BG
• Kong HS
• Kim JH
• Park SM
• Shin C
• Shim JJ
• In KH
• Kim HG
• Kang KH
• Ryu SH

• KMID: 1877015
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2002.52.1.37

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diffuse panbronchiolitis(DPB) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that presents as coughing, copious sputum, exertional dyspnea, which progresses to bronchiectasis. The pathogenesis of bronchiectasis is controlled by inflammatory mediators, which are closely related to mucus hypersecretion, goblet cell dysplasia. In recent studies, the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) system was reported to be associated with this process. It was hypothesized that a relationship exists between goblet cell dysplasia, EGFR expression, and inflammatory mediators produced by neutrophil. METHOD: Alcian blue/periodic acid -Schiff(AB/PAS) stain, MUC5AC, EGFR, CD16 immunohistochemical stain were examined to investigate a role for the EGFR system in a mucus hypersecretion in DPB using the lung biopsy specimens from 13 DPB patients and 6 controls.
RESULTS
In the DPB group, the AB/PAS- and MUC5AC-stained areas were 8.31+/-3.36%, 11.46+/-4.68%, respectively. In the control group, the AB/PAS- and MUC5AC-stained areas were 50.5+/-5.77%, 53.3%+/-6.67%, which was significantly larger than in the DPB group (each comparison, p<0.05). The percentage of EGFR expression was 9.54+/-4.95% in the DPB group, but zero in of the control group. The extent of neutrophilic infiltration was 71.92+/-3.71/5HPF in the DPB group and 45.0+/-5.73/5HPF in the control group, which was statistically significant(p=0.002).
CONCLUSION
The EGFR system is highly related to goblet cell dysplasia, mucus hypersecretion and neutrophilic inflammation in DPB.

Keyword

Diffuse panbronchiolitis; Goblet cell dysplasia; Epidermal growth factor receptor

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Bronchiectasis
Cough
Dyspnea
Epidermal Growth Factor*
Goblet Cells*
Humans
Inflammation
Lung
Lung Diseases
Mucus
Neutrophils
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor*
Sputum
Epidermal Growth Factor
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor