IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF ADVANCED GLYCATION END-PRODUCTS IN PULMONARY FIBROSIS

Aim-To investigate the presence and distribution of advanced glycation end products (AGE) in pulmonary fibrosis. Methods-Lung tissue samples obtained from seven necropsy cases with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and seven with normal pulmonary parenchyma were examined immunohistoc hemically with a monoclonal antibody specific for AGE: 6D12. We also t ested three cases with diffuse alveolar damage. Results-Ah the specime ns from cases with pulmonary fibrosis and diffuse alveolar damage show ed strong AGE expression on macrophages. Lung specimens from normal pa renchyma showed positive AGE immunoreactivity on macrophages from only two of seven cases. Conclusions-These findings suggest that AGE modif ied proteins accumulate in alveolar macrophages in patients with diffu se alveolar damage and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.