Induction of fibrinogen expression in the lung epithelium during Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

ABSTRACT: Pneumocystis carinii is an important pulmonary pathogen responsible for morbidity and mortality in patients with AIDS. The acute-phase response (APR), the primary mechanism used by the body to restore homeostasis following infection, is characterized by increased levels of circulating fibrinogen (FBG). Although the liver is the primary site of increased FBG synthesis during the APR, we unexpectedly discovered that FBG is synthesized and secreted by lung alveolar epithelial cells in vitro during an inflammatory stimulus. Therefore, we sought to determine whether lung epithelial cells produce FBG in vivo using animal models of P. carinii pneumonia (PCP). Inflammation was noted by an influx of macrophages to P. carinii-infected alveoli. Northern hybridization revealed that gamma-FBG mRNA incr

SUBMITTER: Simpson-Haidaris PJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC108536 | biostudies-literature | 1998 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature