Research article

Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors and their receptors in human lung emphysema

Marcel Bonay^{* 1,2} , Anne Boutten^{* 1,3} , Véronique Leçon-Malas³ , Joëlle Marchal¹ , Paul Soler¹ , Michel Fournier⁵ , Guy Leseche⁶ , Monique Dehoux^1,3 and Bruno Crestani^1,4

¹INSERM U 700, Faculté Xavier Bichat, Paris, France

²Service de Physiologie-Explorations Fonctionnelles, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 7, Paris, France

³Service de Biochimie A, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 7, Paris, France

⁴Service de Pneumologie Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 7, Paris, France

⁵Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Beaujon, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 7, Paris, France

⁶Service de Chirurgie Thoracique, Hôpital Beaujon, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 7, Paris, France

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2005, 5:13doi:10.1186/1471-2466-5-13

Published:	10 October 2005

Abstract

Background

Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors are key growth factors in the process of alveolar repair. We hypothesized that excessive alveolar destruction observed in lung emphysema involves impaired expression of hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors or their respective receptors, c-met and keratinocyte growth factor receptor. The aim of our study was to compare the expression of hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors and their receptors in lung samples from 3 groups of patients: emphysema; smokers without emphysema and non-smokers without emphysema.

Methods

Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factor proteins were analysed by immunoassay and western blot; mRNA expression was measured by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors, c-met and keratinocyte growth factor receptor mRNA levels were similar in emphysema and non-emphysema patients. Hepatocyte growth factor mRNA correlated negatively with FEV1 and the FEV1/FVC ratio both in emphysema patients and in smokers with or without emphysema. Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factor protein concentrations were similar in all patients' groups.

Conclusion

The expression of hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors and their receptors is preserved in patients with lung emphysema as compared to patients without emphysema. Hepatocyte growth factor mRNA correlates with the severity of airflow obstruction in smokers.