Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Vol 154, No. 6, 12 1996, 1694-1699.
Progastrin-releasing peptide(31-98) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis
N Shijubo, K Yamaguchi, M Hirasawa, Y Shibuya, M Inuzuka, T Kodama and S Abe
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Japan.
Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is present in the lung and functions as a
growth factor for bronchial epithelial cells and fibroblasts. GRP may
stimulate release of cytokines from alveolar macrophages. However, in
interstitial lung diseases, the role of GRP has not been clarified, in part
because of the instability of GRP. Progastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP)
molecules are the actual GRP gene products. ProGRP molecules contain common
extension peptides(31-98) [ProGRP(31-98)], which are not homologous with
other proteins unlike GRP. With the ELISA, we measured ProGRP(31-98)
concentrations in sera and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids from
patients with sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Significant increased ProGRP(31-98) concentrations were found in sera and
BAL fluids from patients with IPF or sarcoidosis when compared with healthy
subjects. Serum ProGRP(31-98) values significantly correlated with BAL
fluid ProGRP(31-98) values. In IPF and sarcoidosis, the release of the
actual GRP gene products is increased in the lung and the bloodstream, and
GRP may play a role during the processes of inflammation and remodeling in
interstitial lung diseases.
