The Expression And Significance Of Connective Tissue Growth Factor In Fibrotic Lung Tissue Of Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Objective: To investigate the expression and significances of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in fibrotic lung tissue of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Methods: Fibrotic lung tissue specimens were obtained from a total of 35 patients with IPF by transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB), 30 normal lung specimens obtained from resection of thoracic surgery were used as controls. To investigate the expression of CTGF messenger ribonuclear acid (CTGF mRNA) and its protein using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining respectively through comparing positive cells percentage (%), positive proportion percentage (%) and distribution intensity in various cells (score). To investigate the expression of fibronection (Fn) using immunohistochemical staining through comparing positive proportion percentage (%). To analyze whether the positive proportion percentage of CTGF mRNA and its protein have a correlation with that of Fn in fibrotic lung tissue of patients with IPF. Results: (1) The positive cells percentage and positive proportion percentage of CTGF mRNA and its protein were markedly elevated in fibrotic lung tissue of patients with IPF compared to nomal lung tissue (P<0.001). (2) CTGF mRNA and its protein were confined predominantly to proliferating type II alveolar epithelial cells, fibroblasts and alveolar macrophages in fibrotic lung tissue of patients with IPF (P<0.001). The distribution of them in tiny...