R. Kunitake et al., EXPRESSION OF P53, P21 (WAF1 CIP1/SDI1) AND FAS ANTIGEN IN COLLAGEN VASCULAR AND GRANULOMATOUS LUNG-DISEASES/, The European respiratory journal, 12(4), 1998, pp. 920-925
Fas is expressed in various cells and transduces the cell death signal
. p21 is a mediator of p53-dependent G(1) arrest associated with deoxy
ribonucleic acid (DNA) damage. The upregulation of p53 and p21 associa
ted with DNA damage in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has been describe
d previously. In this study, p53, p21, and Fas expression and DNA dama
ge were examined in interstitial pneumonia associated with collagen va
scular diseases (CVD-IP). DNA damage was assessed by terminal deoxynuc
leotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate biotin nick en
d-labelling (TUNEL) and p53, p21 and Fas proteins were detected by imm
unohistochemistry in 13 cases of CVD-IP, 13 of sarcoidosis, seven of h
ypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) and eight control patients with norma
l lung parenchyma. TUNEL-positive signals were found in bronchiolar or
alveolar epithelial cells in 11 of 13 (85%) specimens of CVD-IP, but
not in sarcoidosis, HP or controls, except for a case of chronic HP wi
th pulmonary fibrosis. p53, p21 and Fas were detected in bronchiolar o
r alveolar epithelial cells in nine (69%), 10 (77%) and 12 (92%) of 13
specimens of CVD-IP, respectively, but not in sarcoidosis, HP or cont
rols, except for a case of chronic HP. These results suggest that the
upregulation of p53, p21 and Fas in bronchiolar and alveolar epithelia
l cells associated with deoxyribonucleic acid damage may participate i
n the process of pulmonary fibrosis in interstitial pneumonia associat
ed with collagen vascular diseases and chronic hypersensitivity pneumo
nitis.