TY - JOUR T1 - Human neutrophil defensins and secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor in squamous metaplastic epithelium of bronchial airways. AU - Aarbiou,J, AU - van Schadewijk,A, AU - Stolk,J, AU - Sont,J K, AU - de Boer,W I, AU - Rabe,K F, AU - van Krieken,J H J M, AU - Mauad,T, AU - Hiemstra,P S, Y1 - 2004/05/12/ PY - 2003/09/25/received PY - 2003/12/22/accepted PY - 2004/5/29/pubmed PY - 2005/1/7/medline PY - 2004/5/29/entrez SP - 230 EP - 8 JF - Inflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.] JO - Inflamm Res VL - 53 IS - 6 N2 - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze a possible contribution of human neutrophil defensins and secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor (SLPI) to the induction of airway epithelial changes such as squamous cell metaplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The presence of these molecules and the number of proliferating (Ki-67-positive) epithelial cells was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in bronchial epithelium from subjects with (n = 15) or without (n = 14) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). RESULTS: Our data demonstrate higher numbers of defensin-positive (p = 0.0001), elastase-positive (p = 0.0001) and Ki-67-positive (p = 0.0001) cells in areas with squamous cell metaplasia as compared to areas with intact or damaged epithelium, while the reverse was observed for SLPI expression (p = 0.002). No differences were observed between subjects with or without COPD, nor between current smokers and those that had stopped smoking. CONCLUSIONS: These data are in line with a role of defensins in the hyperproliferative phenotype of squamous metaplastic lesions in the airways. This role does not seem to be restricted to patients with COPD. SN - 1023-3830 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/15167969/Human_neutrophil_defensins_and_secretory_leukocyte_proteinase_inhibitor_in_squamous_metaplastic_epithelium_of_bronchial_airways_ L2 - https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00011-003-1240-x DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -