【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of secondary lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia ( LIP) . Methods Clinical data of 9 cases with secondary LIP diagnosed from1990 to 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Of 9 patients there were 3 males and 6 females,the range of age was 7-64 years. In the 6 adult patients there were 5 females. 2 cases were infected by EB virus and 1 by recurrent pulmonary infection in 3 non-adult patients. In the adult patients, 1 case was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, 1 case with overlapping syndrome, 2 cases with primary biliary cirrhosis,1 case was probably caused by infection, and 1 case was complicated with eosinophilia. Dominant symptoms of pulmonary system were cough, expectoration, and shortness of breath on exertion. Dominant systematic symptoms were asthenia, pyrexia, weight lose, and arthralgia. CT revealed diffuse ground glass opacities with a lower lung zone predominance. Pathologic feature of LIP was a diffuse, polyclonal lymphoid cell infiltration surrounding airways and extending to the lung interstitium. The patients were treated by glucocorticoid and immunosuppressants. Two cases died with secondary infection. Follow-up did not comfirm malignant tumors in the survivors. Conclusions The clinical features of LIP are characteristic, but lacking of specificity. The final diagnosis depends on pathological examination. Treatment targeted on primary diseases can probably have a good efficacy, and the clinical outcome is favorable.
Objective To examine the effects of TGF-β1 on epithelial-myofibroblast transition ( EMT) of A549 cells and its relationship with extracellular regulating kinase1/2 ( ERK1/2) signaling system. Methods Cultured A549 cells were divided into one negative control group and four groups incubated with TGF-β1 for 48 hours at different concentration ( 0.05, 0. 5, 5, 10 μg/L, respectively) . The protein expressions of E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin ( α-SMA) , vimentin and fibronectin were assessed by indirect immunofluorescence and Western blot. In the other experiment, cultured A549 cells were incubated with TGF-β1 for different time. The protein and mRNA expressions of E-cadherin and α-SMA were assessed by Western blot and RT-PCR. The protein expressions of vimentin, fibronectin, ERK1 /2, and p-ERK1 /2 were detected by Western blot. Results By indirect immunofluorescence, Western blot, and RT-PCR analysis, E-cadherin expression significantly decreased and α-SMA expression significantly increased in A549 cells treated with TGF-β1 compared with negative controls in a time- and concentrationdependent manner ( Plt;0.05 ) . Vimentin and fibronectin protein expressions significantly increased simultaneously ( Plt;0.05) . The concentration of 5 ng/mL of TGF-β1 was most effective. The ratio of p-ERK1 /2 and ERK1/2 was significantly increased in the TGF-β1 treated cells in a time-dependent manner ( P lt;0. 05) . Conclusions TGF-β1 can induced EMT in A549 cells in vitro in a time- and concentrationdependant manner. This effect may involve in upregulation of ERK1/2 signaling system.