The mitogen Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) has been linked to cellular proliferation in atherosclerosis and pulmonary fibrosis. We hypothesized that the PDGF may also be involved in the change in airway smooth muscle (ASM) mass following allergen challenge. Allergic bronchoconstriction was confirmed in the airways of OA sensitized and challenged Brown Norway (BN) rats, a model of allergic asthma. To examine PDGF mRNA expression, total lung RNA was extracted and amplified by RT-PCR for PDGF-A and PDGF-B isoforms. Both PDGF isoforms were found in the control and OA challenged groups. PDGF-B expression was increased after OA challenge in the small airways and parenchyma but no difference was detectable for PDGF-A. Western blotting on the lung tissue homogenate indicated that PDGF-B levels increased after OA challenges. Immunocytochemistry was used to localize the expression of PDGF-B in the ASM and epithelium. Morphometric analysis of the lung sections revealed increases in PDGF-B in the ASM and epithelium of the OA group. / Our results indicate that PDGF-A and PDGF-B mRNA are expressed in BN rat lung. Also, PDGF-B protein is upregulated in the airways following allergen challenge. We postulate that aspects of remodeling might be explained by the increased expression of PDGF-B.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.29896 |
| Date | January 1999 |
| Creators | Greenstone, Elliot Ari. |
| Contributors | Martin, James G. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Physiology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001681964, proquestno: MQ55062, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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