Skip to main content
Figure 1 | Respiratory Research

Figure 1

From: Role of aberrant metalloproteinase activity in the pro-inflammatory phenotype of bronchial epithelium in COPD

Figure 1

Basal TGF-α levels are reduced in PBECs from COPD patients versus healthy non-smoking controls, not affected by CSE, induced by PMA and dependent on ADAM17 in PBECs from non-smokers ( n = 8 ), healthy smokers ( n = 9 ) and COPD patients ( n = 8 ). Upon overnight growth factor-deprivation, total cell lysates were prepared or cells were pre-treated with and without GW280264 (2.5 μM), TAPI-2 (2.5 μM) or DMSO for 30 min and incubated with medium, CSE (2.5%) or PMA (5 ng/ml) for 2 or 24 hrs (as indicated). A) TGF-α levels are reduced in PBECs from COPD patients versus non-smokers under basal conditions. Absolute values and medians are shown. Significance is indicated (* = p < 0.05). B) TGF-α levels are not altered by CSE exposure and TGF-α levels are still reduced in PBECs from COPD patients versus non-smokers upon CSE exposure. Absolute values are shown. Significance is indicated (* = p < 0.05). C) Increase in TGF-α levels upon PMA exposure to a similar level in PBECs from the 3 different subject groups, which is inhibited by GW280264. Absolute values are shown. Significance is indicated (** = p < 0.01). D) GW280264 and TAPI-2 inhibit basal release of TGF-α in the three different subject groups. Absolute values are shown. Significance is indicated (** = p < 0.01).

Back to article page