Moreover, positive DAB staining of PCNA, SP-B & SP-C was observed due to rHuKGF supplementation at tissue level. rHuKGF is therapeutically potent in maintaining pulmonary tissue integrity by amelioration of protease/antiprotease imbalance and TGFβ-1 pathway in emphysema.
To investigate the emphysema pathogenesis in this pig model, we examined the expression of MMP2, MMP7, MMP9, MMP12, and TGF-β1 by quantitative PCR (qPCR).
Published human microarray and murine linkage studies have also demonstrated the importance of TGFBR3 in emphysema and lung function, and our group and others have previously found association of COPD-related traits with TGFB1, a ligand for TGFBR3.