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Abstract：
The alteration of progenitor/stem cells present in the airway epithelium has been observed in patients with COPD. Smoking exposure induces remodeling patterns in bronchial progenitor cells (BPCs), encompassing squamous metaplasia, hyperplasia of basal and of mucus-secreting cells, and the depletion of ciliated and non-mucous secretory cells. Our aim was to assess the expression of p63 and vimentin as potential markers of airway remodeling and the regulation of stem cell populations in obstructive and neoplastic lung disease patients. A retrospective single-center observational study was conducted, including patients undergoing bronchoscopy with bronchial biopsies for suspected lung cancer. p63 and vimentin expression were evaluated via immunohistochemical analysis. There were 25 patients, of which 21 with COPD were included, and 17 were diagnosed with lung cancer. We observed that FEV1% was negatively correlated with p63+ basal cell number (r = -0.614, p = 0.019) and positively correlated with vimentin expression (r = 0.670; p = 0.008). p63 was significantly higher in biopsies from the trachea and main bronchi compared to more distal areas (p = 0.040), whereas vimentin was prevalent in the more distal areas (p = 0.042). Our preliminary data suggest the initial evidence of structural changes in BPCs among patients with COPD and lung cancer. Further research efforts are warranted to investigate additional morphologic and functional respiratory parameters in these patients.
摘要：
已经在患有COPD的患者中观察到存在于气道上皮中的祖细胞/干细胞的改变。吸烟暴露诱导支气管祖细胞（BPCs）重塑模式，包括鳞状上皮化生，基底细胞和粘液分泌细胞的增生，纤毛和非粘液分泌细胞的消耗。我们的目的是评估p63和波形蛋白的表达，作为阻塞性和肿瘤性肺病患者气道重塑和干细胞群调节的潜在标志物。进行了一项回顾性单中心观察性研究，包括接受支气管镜检查并进行支气管活检的疑似肺癌患者。通过免疫组织化学分析评估p63和波形蛋白的表达。有25个病人,其中21例COPD包括在内，17人被诊断为肺癌。我们观察到FEV1%与p63+基底细胞数呈负相关（r=-0.614，p=0.019），与波形蛋白表达呈正相关（r=0.670；p=0.008）。与远端区域相比，气管和主支气管的活检中p63明显更高（p=0.040），而波形蛋白在更远的区域普遍存在(p=0.042)。我们的初步数据表明COPD和肺癌患者中BPCs结构变化的初步证据。需要进一步的研究努力来研究这些患者的其他形态和功能呼吸参数。
