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Biomedical subjects

D H Bowden

Publications and source records attributed to D H Bowden.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Mesothelial cell proliferation: a nonspecific response to lung injury associated with fibrosis.

An early proliferative response of mesothelial and subpleural cells has been reported in animals after inhalation or intratracheal (I.T.) instillation to the lung of long asbestos fibers, which also induce pulmonary fibrosis. To determine whether this cell proliferation is directly related to asbestos exposure or is a nonspecific response to injury, we examined [3H]thymidine (3HT) uptake by cells at the pleura after exposing mice to 5 days of hyperoxia, to intravenous (I.V.) (3 mg) or I.T. (0.15 mg) bleomycin, to I.T. (1 mg) silica, and to I.T. (0.1 mg) crocidolite asbestos of mixed length. All exposures induced acute lung injury, as shown by high levels of protein in lavage fluid. After hyperoxia, the percentage of total lung cells labeled by 3HT in autoradiographs was high for only a few days, as repair took place with no increase in fibroblast growth and no subsequent development of fibrosis. Particle or bleomycin exposure induced a prolonged increase in 3HT uptake with enhanced fibroblast labeling over a 4- to 6-wk period. In each case, labeled subpleural cells, mainly fibroblasts, increased up to 10-fold in the first 2 to 4 wk. At the same time, 3HT uptake by mesothelial cells ranged from 1.4 to 3% compared with almost zero in controls and in oxygen-exposed mice after a few days upon return to air. These results indicate that mesothelial and subpleural cell proliferation occurs after various types of injury to the lung. The close temporal association between 3HT uptake by mesothelial cells and fibroblasts during the reparative phase suggests that mesothelial cells may respond to the same cytokines that trigger interstitial fibrosis.

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Mesothelial cell proliferation after instillation of long or short asbestos fibers into mouse lung.

The relationship of asbestos deposition in the lung to subsequent cell proliferation at the pleural surface is not clear. The present study examines DNA synthesis by various pulmonary cells, particularly those at the pleura after intratracheal injection of 0.1 mg crocidolite to mice using: 1) long fibers (> 20 mu), which are deposited in bronchiolar regions and induce fibrosis; 2) short fibers (< 1 mu), which reach alveoli but do not induce fibrosis. Mice also received 2 microCi/g tritiated thymidine 1 hour before death at intervals to 16 weeks. Short fibers induced only a small increase in labeling of bronchiolar epithelial and interstitial cells, which subsided by 5 days, when a small increase in labeled mesothelial and subpleural cells was seen. In contrast, long fibers damaged the bronchiolar epithelium and became incorporated into connective tissue. During regeneration, 12% of cells were labeled at 3 days and labeling was greater than controls to 4 weeks. Increased peribronchiolar labeling of fibroblasts and interstitial macrophages was seen around long fibers, and increased DNA synthesis by mesothelial and subpleural cells was found. Up to 2% of mesothelial cells were labeled 1 week after long fibers compared to near zero in controls. No long fibers were found at the pleura. Activation of interstitial macrophages in response to long crocidolite fibers is associated with fibroblast proliferation. It is now suggested that mesothelial cells may also be stimulated by cytokines from activated interstitial macrophages that diffuse across the interstitium, without requiring actual fiber translocation to the pleura.

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Pulmonary toxic effects of continuous desferrioxamine administration in acute iron poisoning.

The drug of choice for the treatment of iron poisoning is desferrioxamine, though the best route of administration, dose, and duration of treatment are unclear. We report fatal lung injury in four patients who were treated with continuous intravenous infusions. The patients, aged 19-26 years, had received desferrioxamine infusions of 15 mg/kg per h for 65-92 h. Respiratory distress developed after 32-72 h. The patients met clinical, physiological, and necropsy criteria for the diagnosis of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); none had any of the known risk factors for the development of this disorder. We reviewed the records of forty-three iron-poisoned patients treated with desferrioxamine infusions. No patient treated for less than 24 h had pulmonary complications; however, of the fourteen treated for longer than 24 h, four were the patients with ARDS and four others had pulmonary oedema of other causes. We suggest that the pulmonary complications are caused by continuous infusion of desferrioxamine and that the ARDS in these patient was a consequence of free-radical generation. We recommend that desferrioxamine infusion should not be administered for longer than 24 h.

Acute Disease↗

Instillation of chemotactic factor to silica-injected lungs lowers interstitial particle content and reduces pulmonary fibrosis.

Silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis usually follows exposure to increased levels of this particulate and its retention in interstitial macrophages of the lung. It is suggested that accelerated clearance of particles from the pulmonary interstitium may ameliorate subsequent fibrosis. To test this hypothesis, one group of mice received 2-mg intratracheal (IT) silica; some particles were phagocytized and cleared during the subsequent inflammatory response, other particles were translocated across the epithelium to reach interstitial macrophages by 2 weeks. These mice later showed increased fibroblast growth, a doubling of lung collagen levels and large silicotic nodules by 16 weeks when much of the silica was still present in the lung. A second group of mice received IT silica, then 2 and 3 weeks later received IT injections of N-formyl-L-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), a leukocyte chemoattractant. Subsequently, a significant increase in inflammatory cells was seen and silica was observed mostly in phagocytes within the alveolar spaces. Few interstitial particles were found at 4 weeks, and extensive fibrosis did not develop by 16 weeks; only a few small nodules were seen and little silica was present in the lung. The results indicate that clearance of interstitial particles by a controlled inflammatory response is possible, and that removal of silica from the interstitium decreases the fibrotic response.

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Surface to nuclear distances in human bronchial epithelium: relationships to penetration by Rn daughters.

Lung cancer in U miners is thought to be related to the inhalation of particulate Rn daughters. Since the depth of penetration by alpha particles is short, the thickness of the epithelium lining the bronchial tree may be a critical factor in the development of cancers at specific sites in the lung. The objectives of the study were to measure the thickness of the epithelium at all levels of the human bronchial tree, to determine the distances of epithelial nuclei from the mucociliary surface, and to compare these parameters in smokers and nonsmokers. Twenty-nine surgically removed specimens were examined; 26 were from smokers. No significant differences were found between smokers and nonsmokers, allowing us to treat the 29 cases as a homogeneous group. With progressive divisions of the bronchi, the epithelium decreases in thickness, and distances of nuclei from the surface are also less in the peripheral bronchi. Allowing for artefacts of tissue preparation, the mean distance from the mucociliary surface to the underlying nuclei varies between 17 and 38 microns.

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Comparison of alveolar and interstitial macrophages in fibroblast stimulation after silica and long or short asbestos.

Pulmonary fibrosis in response to silica or asbestos has been attributed to secretion of fibroblast growth factors (FGF) by alveolar macrophages (AM). However, since fibrosis is interstitial, and is associated with particle retention by interstitial macrophages (IM), we have now compared the secretory activity of FGF by rat alveolar (AM) and IM in response to silica and to long or short asbestos fibers. AM were obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage, and IM by collecting macrophages that migrate from explants of a previously lavaged and perfused lung. Six weeks after instilling silica, isolated AM and IM from lungs secreted equal amounts of FGF. Six weeks after instilling short asbestos fibers in vivo, lavaged AM secreted FGF, but there was no change in fibroblast growth and no fibrosis in vivo. After long fibers, that reach the interstitium were instilled, isolated IM secreted FGF, and collagen levels were increased. When IM and AM were isolated from normal rats and exposed to the same silica or asbestos samples in vitro, it was found that all macrophage supernatants contained FGF, and the response of AM and IM was equal. The results indicate that the two macrophage populations respond equally to particles with respect to FGF secretion. The greater fibrotic reaction seen in vivo may be explained by the proximity of fibroblasts to particle-laden macrophages within the interstitium allowing more efficient transfer of FGF.

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Epithelial cell-fibroblast interactions in lung injury and repair.

Although direct intercellular contacts between alveolar epithelial cells and fibroblasts have been described in developing and adult lung, the frequency of such contacts and their relationship to type 2 cell division and differentiation in normal and abnormal repair is not known. The authors now correlate measurements of type 2 cell basal surface, basement membrane continuity, and the incidence of epithelial-interstitial cell contacts with the proliferative index of type 2 cells and fibroblasts in normal repair (after hyperoxia) and in abnormal repair with fibrosis (after bleomycin or butylated hydroxytoluene). In each case, type 1 cell necrosis was followed by an increase in type 2 cell basal surface as the cells spread over the denuded capillary wall before dividing. After hyperoxia, a high but short-lived peak in type 2 cell division was not accompanied by fibrosis. After more severe drug-induced injury, the type 2 proliferative phase was extended and was accompanied by prolonged fibroblast growth. Type 2 cells persisted where they covered a thick interstitium of fibroblasts and fibrillar collagen. The incidence of epithelial-interstitial cell contacts decreased at the time of maximal type 2 cell division, then increased immediately after the peak. The results suggest a reciprocal epithelial-fibroblast control system whereby 1) epithelial necrosis and delayed repair promotes fibroblast growth, and 2) direct contact of epithelial cells with fibroblasts or fibrillar collagen may provide a factor important for the regulation of type 2 cell growth and differentiation.

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Pulmonary reaction to long and short asbestos fibers is independent of fibroblast growth factor production by alveolar macrophages.

The role of alveolar macrophage (AM)-derived secretory products in fibroblast stimulation after the instillation of long and short asbestos to rat lungs is now investigated. A pure sample of 1 mg long crocidolite (greater than 2.5 mu) induced pulmonary fibrosis in 8 weeks, but secretions of lavaged AM from these lungs did not enhance growth or collagen synthesis in cultured rat lung fibroblasts. In contrast, the same dose of short fibers did not produce pulmonary fibrosis, although AM lavaged from these lungs were increased in number, had more phagocytized fibers, and when incubated, secreted factors that stimulated fibroblasts in culture. When normal AM were exposed to these fiber samples for 24 hours in vitro, greater phagocytosis of particles occurred and each asbestos fiber sample induced secretion of an AM-derived growth factor for cultured fibroblasts. The results indicate that both long and short fibers are capable of inducing AM to secrete fibrogenic factors in vitro, but in vivo, cytokine secretion by AM into the alveolar spaces in response to short fibers is not associated with stimulation of the interstitial fibroblast. In contrast, pulmonary fibrosis after long fiber administration appears unrelated to an AM secretion and is probably caused by fiber penetration into the peribronchiolar tissue, where interstitial macrophage activation may occur over several weeks.

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Silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis involves the reaction of particles with interstitial rather than alveolar macrophages.

Macrophage-derived products have been implicated in fibroblast stimulation following particle deposition in the lung. To assess the role of macrophages in the alveolus versus those in the interstitium in the induction of pulmonary fibrosis, we compared the pulmonary response to silica when phagocytosis occurred predominantly in each of these compartments. One group of mice received intratracheal silica which was phagocytosed largely by alveolar macrophages (AM). A second group was exposed to whole body irradiation prior to receiving the same dose of silica. This prevented the usual efflux of PMN and monocytes into the air sacs, allowing passage of silica particles across the alveolar epithelium to reach the interstitial macrophages (IM). In the irradiation plus silica group, many large interstitial granulomas were formed at 2-4 weeks, and collagen levels were significantly greater than in all other groups at 16 weeks. More silica was found in a lung tissue residue and in lymph nodes of these animals. Pulmonary fibrosis was limited to interstitial areas where there was a high level of retained silica, whereas peripheral regions of the lung, where free AM containing silica were found, did not show fibrosis of the alveolar walls. The results suggest that factors secreted by IM in response to silica are more effective in stimulating fibrogenesis than secretions made by the AM into the alveolar space.

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Enhanced macrophage-fibroblast interactions in the pulmonary interstitium increases fibrosis after silica injection to monocyte-depleted mice.

The role of interstitial vs. alveolar macrophages in the generation of pulmonary fibrosis after silica was examined. Using whole body irradiation to delay the inflammatory response and so retard particulate clearance, many more instilled silica particles reached the interstitial macrophages in the first 2 weeks than after silica alone. This was followed by greatly increased fibroblast proliferation and deposition of collagen in the irradiation plus silica group, which developed large interstitial granulomas at the sites of silica retention. Although alveolar macrophages containing silica were seen in both silica groups, more interstitial particles were observed after combined irradiation and silica, significantly more silica was recovered in a residue from the lungs at 16 weeks, and pulmonary fibrosis at 8-16 weeks was greater than in all other groups. The results indicate that increased fibroblast growth and collagen synthesis in vivo are associated with phagocytosis of silica by interstitial macrophages rather than by free alveolar macrophages. It is suggested that transfer of a macrophages-derived growth factor to fibroblasts is more efficient when it occurs within the pulmonary interstitium.

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Enhanced secretion of immunoreactive bombesin by alveolar macrophages exposed to silica.

Bombesin has recently been identified in alveolar macrophages (AM). Since this peptide has been shown to stimulate fibroblast growth in culture, we wished to determine whether AM exposed to the fibrogenic particle silica in vivo were capable of secreting more bombesin than AM recovered after instilling inert carbon particles to the lung. Rats received 10 mg of either carbon or silica by intratracheal injection and were killed at 3 days or 6 weeks. Both particles induced a rapid inflammatory response, and normal levels of immunoreactive bombesin were measured in lung lavage fluid and in freshly recovered macrophages from all rats. However, incubation of normal AM for 4 h in serum free medium produced a significant increase in bombesin levels measured in supernatants. Bombesin in supernatants of AM cultured after recovery from rats exposed to carbon was at the control value, while AM recovered after silica exposure in vivo secreted increased amounts of bombesin when cultured. Cells recovered 6 wk after instilling silica to the lung and cultured for 4 h secreted 50% more bombesin than control AM. At this time, hydroxyproline measured in the silica-injected lungs was also significantly higher than in controls or carbon-injected rats. These results indicate that AM recovered from lungs after exposure to silica secrete increased amounts of bombesin during the development of pulmonary fibrosis.

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Collagen breakdown during acute lung injury.

Injury to the capillary endothelium and to alveolar epithelial cells of the lung may result in damage to the underlying collagen of the extracellular matrix. To examine this possibility, whole body irradiation, bleomycin injections, and exposure to hyperoxia were used to induce various types of lung damage in mice. The morphology of the lung and the cellular and protein content of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were used to assess injury. Collagen breakdown was assessed from the hydroxyproline concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. When lung cell injury was observed, protein leaked in to alveoli and hydroxyproline was detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. An increase in hydroxyproline followed endothelial damage by irradiation and was greatly increased when type 1 epithelial cell necrosis also occurred after bleomycin injection or hyperoxia. Maximal concentrations of hydroxyproline occurred in mice showing respiratory distress after six days of hyperoxia. Concentrations returned to zero during the subsequent phases of cell regeneration and fibrosis seen after bleomycin injection and irradiation. There was little change in the cellular components of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at any time. The results indicate that collagen breakdown occurs during acute lung injury and can be quantified in terms of the hydroxyproline concentration in lavage fluid. Such a change in the extracellular matrix might influence the subsequent division and differentiation of regenerating cells during repair.

Acute Disease↗

Proliferation of pulmonary macrophages during the early phase of an acute graft-versus-host reaction in mice.

The pulmonary response was investigated during the early lymphoproliferative phase of an acute graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction induced in (C57BL/6 x A/J)F1 hybrid mice by iv injection of 50 x 10(6) A/J spleen and lymph node cells. The GVH reaction was monitored by measuring splenomegaly and immunosuppression. Animals were sacrificed after 5, 7, 11, and 16 d and bronchoalveolar lavage was performed; on each day a significant increase in the number of alveolar macrophages (AM) was seen, whereas no increase was found in other inflammatory cells. In lung sections, interstitial mononuclear cell infiltrates were seen around airways and pulmonary veins on d 11 and in alveolar septae on d 16. The kinetics of cell proliferation was evaluated in lung, liver, and peritoneum of mice with GVHR reactions by injecting [3H] thymidine 1 h before sacrifice. Autoradiographs revealed a marked increase in the number of labeled AM, pulmonary interstitial cells, Kuppfer cells, peritoneal macrophages, and intravascular monocytes. The results indicate that the GVH reaction causes a proliferative response of pulmonary macrophages early in its course. This stimulus appears to by systemic, since resident macrophages in other organs show a similar response. It is possible that local macrophage proliferation and the subsequent activation of these cells may play a role in the cellular mechanism of tissue injury seen during later stages of the reaction.

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Relationship of alveolar epithelial injury and repair to the induction of pulmonary fibrosis.

Explants of mouse lung were cultured at various stages of injury after exposure to hyperoxia for determination of whether endothelial or epithelial injury alone could stimulate fibrosis in a blood-free environment. Mice were exposed to 95% O2 for periods up to 6 days. Then one lobe of lung was prepared for organ culture, and others were used for assessment of lung damage by morphologic studies and by the protein and cellular content of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Explants cultured when the lung showed endothelial injury only were not different from air-exposed controls. As alveolar damage, particularly to Type 1 epithelial cells, increased at 6 days, more protein was found by lavage; and after culture, overall DNA synthesis in explants was reduced. Autoradiography showed that epithelial cell proliferation was preferentially retarded while fibroblast growth became predominant. Collagen production was also significantly increased after 3 and 6 days of culture. In these explants there were few macrophages and no white blood cells or other blood components. Some mice, returned to air after hyperoxia, showed prompt epithelial repair, and cultures of these lungs were not different from controls. The results suggest that severe injury and retarded repair of the alveolar epithelium disturbs normal epithelial-fibroblast interactions and is sufficient to promote the fibrotic process. Less severe injury involving the endothelium only is not associated with fibrosis.

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Response of mouse lung to crocidolite asbestos. 1. Minimal fibrotic reaction to short fibres.

To determine the relationship between the development of pulmonary fibrosis and the size of deposited asbestos, we prepared a pure sample of short crocidolite fibres and instilled 0.5 mg of 0.1 mg to the lungs of mice. Animals were killed up to 20 weeks later with 3H thymidine injected 1 h before death. By bronchoalveolar lavage, there was a rapid transient increase in polymorph neutrophils (PMN) and in glucosaminidase levels; alveolar macrophage (AM) numbers were elevated in the 0.5 mg group for eight weeks. Most fibres were phagocytized by AM, many of which were heavily laden and cleared from the lung over the 20 week period. Some fibres were seen in type 1 epithelial cells, frequently associated with cell injury. From cell kinetic studies, a very brief proliferative response was seen in bronchiolar epithelial and Type 2 alveolar epithelial cells. A greater response was seen in interstitial fibroblasts which showed increased labelling up to two weeks after 0.5 mg asbestos. However no granulomas were seen and very little fibrosis was found by morphology or by biochemistry at any time after 0.5 mg; no fibrosis was seen after instilling 0.1 mg. The results show that a high dose of exclusively short asbestos fibres produces minimal lung injury and fibrosis in spite of long standing macrophage-fibre interaction in the alveoli.

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Response of mouse lung to crocidolite asbestos. 2. Pulmonary fibrosis after long fibres.

To determine the cellular and fibrogenic responses of the lung to long asbestos fibres, mice were instilled intratracheally with 0.1 mg of a sample of long crocidolite fibres. Animals were killed at intervals to 20 weeks with 3H thymidine injected one h before death. Following bronchoalveolar lavage, an increase in polymorph neutrophils (PMN) and alveolar macrophages (AM) was found during the first week, accompanied by elevated glucosaminidase and alveolar protein levels. Although the PMN number dropped, some were always recovered by lavage to 20 weeks. Early multifocal necrosis of bronchiolar epithelium was followed by a large increase in labelling of epithelial cells and underlying fibroblasts. Epithelial overgrowth of luminal long fibres and inflammatory exudates was followed by giant cell and granuloma formation in the interstitium. After four weeks collagen levels were significantly increased and fibrosis was seen in these peribronchiolar locations. A few small fibres were observed in AM but no evidence of fibrosis was seen in alveolar walls. These findings suggest that injury to bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium allows long fibres to reach the interstitium where subsequent macrophage-fibroblast interactions result in a severe fibrotic reaction that resembles the bronchiolar component of human asbestosis.

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