| Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Apr;130(4):446-9. |
|
Keratinocyte growth factor and autocrine
repair in airway epithelium.
Hicks WL Jr, Hall LA
3rd, Hard R, Gardella J, Bright F, Parasharama N, Lwebuga-Mukasa J,
Sigurdson L.
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Roswell Park Cancer
Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263,
BACKGROUND: Delayed or nonreepithelialization of
the large conducting airway (ie, trachea and bronchus)
is a clinically recognized but poorly understood result of airway trauma.
This delay results in granulation tissue formation and scarring, which impairs
mucocilliary transport and can critically compromise gas exchange.
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is a known epithelial cell mitogen
that is derived from mesenchymal cells. We previously
observed its expression in injured tracheal explants, and in the present study
we investigated its origin. DESIGN: Freshly isolated porcine tracheal epithelial
cells were cytospun onto glass slides for immunohistochemical identification and localization of KGF and for in situ hybridization localization of its messenger
RNA. Polymerase chain reaction analysis for KGF
was also performed. RESULTS: Freshly isolated respiratory epithelial cells
were identified as being of epithelial origin and uncontaminated by fibroblasts,
as evidenced by stains that were positive for AE3
and negative for vimentin. Immunohistochemical
analysis and in situ hybridization revealed a subset of cells that were positive
for both the protein and the message for KGF. CONCLUSION:
This subset of KGF-expressing respiratory epithelial
cells may participate in a hitherto undescribed
autocrine loop for stimulating KGF
production in response to injury.
PMID: 15096428 [PubMed
- indexed for MEDLINE]