PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - I.M.J. Eurlings
AU  - N.L. Reynaert
AU  - E.F.M. Wouters
AU  - M.A. Dentener
TI  - Comparable matrix alterations in the alveolar and small airway wall of COPD patients
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P1437
VI  - 40
IP  - Suppl 56
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P1437.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P1437.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40
AB  - Rationale: Remodeling in COPD is considered twofold with thickening of the wall of airways <2mm on one hand and destruction of alveolar walls on the other. However, we hypothesize that matrix alterations in both alveolar and small airway (SA) walls of COPD patients show more similarity.Methods: Lung tissue sections of 8 smoking controls and 10 moderate to severe COPD patients were stained for elastin by Weigert's Resorcin-Fuchsin and collagen 1, 2 and 3 by Picrosirius red. In addition, hyaluronan, a glycosaminoglycan matrix component, was stained with a hyaluronan binding protein. All stainings were corrected for total surface area and data expressed as mean % of stained area ± SD.Results: Elastin was significantly decreased in COPD in both alveolar (27.7% ± 5.3 vs. 17.9% ± 3.3, p<0.01) and SA walls (24.2% ± 4.4 vs. 15.2% ± 2.7, p<0.01). Both collagen in alveolar (11.6% ± 5.4 vs. 25.9% ± 10.4, p<0.01) and SA walls (11.8% ± 2.3 vs. 23.2% ± 6.7, p<0.01) and hyaluronan in alveolar (11.7% ± 3.2 vs. 19.8% ± 3.5, p<0.01) and SA walls (12.9% ± 5.4 vs. 25.6% ± 10.0, p<0.05) increased significantly. Alveolar and SA wall matrix components correlated significantly: elastin (r=0.644, p<0.01), collagen (r=0.741, p<0.01) and hyaluronan (r=0.626, p<0.05). Furthermore matrix compounds were significantly related with FEV1 : alveolar elastin (r=0.742, p<0.01), SA elastin (r=0.824, p<0.01), alveolar collagen (r=-0.755, p<0.01), SA collagen (r=-0.675, p<0.01), alveolar hyaluronan (r=-0.775, p<0.01) and SA hyaluronan (r=-0.538, p<0.05).Conclusion: These results indicate that remodeling in the alveolar and SA wall in COPD show marked similarities and both relate to FEV1.