Abstract
Little is known about the contribution of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in remodeling of vascular wall (VW) in COPD patients with osteoporosis (OP).
Aim: examining the VEGF and TGF-β expressions in VW.
Materials and Methods: VEGF and TGFβ expression in the VW of striated muscle specimens of 20 severe COPD with OP and healthy subjects (HS) were examined by immunohistochemistry method.
Results: TGF-β2 expression in the vessel wall was observed in both groups; the immunopositive stainings for TGF-β2 were located in the cytoplasm of the endothelial cells and the smooth muscle cells of the tunica media. The quantity of TGF was 89.44±6.53% in the COPD samples and 36.12±6.82% in HS (p=0.000). In the severe COPD group, increases in the TGF-β2 histochemical activities was observed in the endothelial (52.93±8.92%) and smooth muscular layers (87.34±8.51%) and were significantly higher in comparison with HS (37.52±5.41% and 33.73±4.25%, respectively, p=0.003 and p=0.032).
The percentage of VEGF-positive muscular arteries in the HS samples was significantly reduced (44.13±8.22%) compared with that in the COPD samples (93.21±7.34%). The VEGF stained cells of HS were located predominantly in the endothelium, whereas in severe COPD patients ones were of endothelial and muscular layers. The staining intensities of the intima (84.82±8.31%) and muscular layers (72.43±9.34%) of vessels in COPD were greater than those in HS (32.31±3.42% and 18.64±9.13%, p=0.002).
Results of our study support the hypothesis of contribution of growth factors (VEGF and TGFβ) in arterial remodeling and in evolution of bone damage in severe COPD.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 2984.
This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2020