Extracellular matrix (ECM) composition has an important role in determining airway structure. We postulated that ECM lung composition of COPD patients differs from that observed in smoking and non-smoking subjects without airflow obstruction.
We determined the fractional areas of elastic fibres, type-I, III and IV collagen, versican, decorin, biglycan, lumican, fibronectin and tenascin in different compartments of the large and small airways and lung parenchyma in 26 COPD patients, 26 smokers without COPD and 16 non-smoking control subjects.
The fractional area of elastic fibres was higher in non-obstructed smokers than in COPD and non-smoking controls, in all lung compartments. Type-I collagen fractional area was lower in the large and small airways of COPD patients and in the small airways of non-obstructed smokers than in non-smokers. Compared with non-smokers, COPD patients had lower versican fractional area in the parenchyma, higher fibronectin fractional area in small airways and higher tenascin fractional area in large and small airways compartments. In COPD patients, significant correlations were found between elastic fibres and fibronectin and lung function parameters.
Alterations of the major ECM components are widespread in all lung compartments of patients with COPD and may contribute to persistent airflow obstruction.
Authors: Annoni R, Lanças T, Tanigawa RY, de Medeiros Matsushita M, de Morais Fernezlian S, Bruno A, da Silva LF, Roughley PJ, Battaglia S, Dolhnikoff M, Hiemstra PS, Sterk PJ, Rabe KF, Mauad T
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