Biomaterial Database

Non-specific bronchial reactivity and ultrastructure of the airway epithelium in patients with sarcoidosis and allergic alveolitis. 1983

L A Laitinen, and T Haahtela, and T Kava, and A Laitinen

There are subgroups of subjects showing increased bronchial responsiveness to histamine among patients with sarcoidosis and with allergic alveolitis (farmer's lung). In these subjects the airway reactivity is comparable with that usually encountered in patients with asthma and in many cases of bronchitis. In many of our patients with hyperreactive sarcoidosis and alveolitis, the increased reactivity was transient, lasting for one to two months during the acute stage of the disease. By electron microscopy we have shown that some of these patients have extensive epithelial damage which could increase epithelial permeability and uncover superficial afferent nerve endings. Indeed, superficial epithelial afferent nerves were found, and it is possible that irritation of these nerve endings causes enhanced bronchoconstriction via the vagal reflex. The transient nature of the hyperreactivity observed in patients with sarcoidosis and alveolitis may indicate that the epithelial changes are readily reversible. The recovery of the epithelium could perhaps be demonstrated by taking serial bronchial biopsies during the course of the disease. Because the electron microscopic specimens represented only a small area of bronchial epithelium, it is difficult to draw any conclusions as to a quantitative relationship between the amount of total epithelial damage and the degree of bronchial reactivity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008171	Lung Diseases	Pathological processes involving any part of the LUNG.	Pulmonary Diseases,Disease, Pulmonary,Diseases, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Disease,Disease, Lung,Diseases, Lung,Lung Disease
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009092	Mucous Membrane	An EPITHELIUM with MUCUS-secreting cells, such as GOBLET CELLS. It forms the lining of many body cavities, such as the DIGESTIVE TRACT, the RESPIRATORY TRACT, and the reproductive tract. Mucosa, rich in blood and lymph vessels, comprises an inner epithelium, a middle layer (lamina propria) of loose CONNECTIVE TISSUE, and an outer layer (muscularis mucosae) of SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS that separates the mucosa from submucosa.	Lamina Propria,Mucosa,Mucosal Tissue,Muscularis Mucosae,Mucous Membranes,Membrane, Mucous,Membranes, Mucous,Mucosae, Muscularis,Mucosal Tissues,Propria, Lamina,Tissue, Mucosal,Tissues, Mucosal
D012130	Respiratory Hypersensitivity	A form of hypersensitivity affecting the respiratory tract. It includes ASTHMA and RHINITIS, ALLERGIC, SEASONAL.	Airway Hyperresponsiveness,Hypersensitivity, Respiratory,Airway Hyper-Responsiveness,Airway Hyper Responsiveness,Airway Hyperresponsivenesses,Hyper-Responsiveness, Airway,Hyperresponsiveness, Airway,Respiratory Hypersensitivities
D001980	Bronchi	The larger air passages of the lungs arising from the terminal bifurcation of the TRACHEA. They include the largest two primary bronchi which branch out into secondary bronchi, and tertiary bronchi which extend into BRONCHIOLES and PULMONARY ALVEOLI.	Primary Bronchi,Primary Bronchus,Secondary Bronchi,Secondary Bronchus,Tertiary Bronchi,Tertiary Bronchus,Bronchi, Primary,Bronchi, Secondary,Bronchi, Tertiary,Bronchus,Bronchus, Primary,Bronchus, Secondary,Bronchus, Tertiary
D004848	Epithelium	The layers of EPITHELIAL CELLS which cover the inner and outer surfaces of the cutaneous, mucus, and serous tissues and glands of the body.	Mesothelium,Epithelial Tissue,Mesothelial Tissue,Epithelial Tissues,Mesothelial Tissues,Tissue, Epithelial,Tissue, Mesothelial,Tissues, Epithelial,Tissues, Mesothelial
D005203	Farmer's Lung	A form of alveolitis or pneumonitis due to an acquired hypersensitivity to inhaled antigens associated with farm environment. Antigens in the farm dust are commonly from bacteria actinomycetes (SACCHAROPOLYSPORA and THERMOACTINOMYCES), fungi, and animal proteins in the soil, straw, crops, pelts, serum, and excreta.	Mushroom Worker's Lung,Farmer Lung,Farmer's Lungs,Farmers Lung,Mushroom Worker Lung,Mushroom Worker's Lungs,Mushroom Workers Lung
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man