Evidence for chronic inflammation as a component of the interstitial lung disease associated with progressive systemic sclerosis

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5245780

Rossi, G A; Bitterman, P B; Rennard, S I; Ferrans, V J; Crystal, R G

Progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) is a generalized disorder characterized by fibrosis of many organs including the lung parenchyma. Unlike most other interstitial disorders, traditional concepts of the interstitial lung disease associated with PSS have held it to be a ''pure'' fibrotic disorder without a significant inflammatory component. To directly evaluate whether an active alveolitis is associated with this disorder, patients with chronic interstitial lung disease and PSS were studied by open lung biopsy, gallium-67 scanning, and bronchoalveolar lavage. Histologic evaluation of the biopsies demonstrated that the interstitial fibrosis of PSS is clearly associated with the presence of macrophages, lymphocytes, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, both in the interstitium and on the alveolar epithelial surface. Gallium-67 scans were positive in 77% of the patients, showing diffuse, primarily lower zone uptake, suggestive of active inflammation. Consistent with the histologic findings, bronchoalveolar lavage studies demonstrated a mild increase in the proportions of neutrophils and eosinophils with occasional increased numbers of lymphocytes. Importantly, alveolar macrophages from patients with PSS showed increased release of fibronectin and alveolar-macrophage-derived growth factor, mediators that together stimulate lung fibroblasts to proliferate, thus suggesting at least one mechanism modulating the lung fibrosis of these patients.

• Research Organization: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD
• OSTI ID: 5245780
• Journal Information: Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States) Vol. 4; ISSN ARDSB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ANIMAL CELLS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOPSY
BODY
BRONCHI
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
FIBROBLASTS
FIBROSIS
GALLIUM 67
GALLIUM ISOTOPES
INFLAMMATION
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IRRIGATION
ISOTOPES
LAVAGE
LUNGS
MACROPHAGES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PHAGOCYTES
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SCINTISCANNING
SOMATIC CELLS
SYMPTOMS