BACKGROUND Transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐ β1) is a multifunctional factor and is known to affect tumor growth in malignant tumors. The effects of TGF‐β1 on angiogenesis, stromal formation, and immune function suggest its possible involvement in tumor progression. The authors examined whether TGF‐β1 levels may be correlated with angiogenesis, clinicopathologic factors, and survival in patients with surgically resected lung carcinoma. METHODS TGF‐β1 protein was extracted from 53 nonsmall cell lung carcinoma tissue samples (19 squamous cell carcinomas, 33 adenocarcinomas, and 1 adenosquamous cell carcinoma), and its level was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. To assess tumor angiogenesis, microvessel density (MVD) was determined by CD31 immunostaining. RESULTS The protein level of TGF‐β1 was 289 picograms per milligram of protein (pg/mg protein), ranging from 94 pg/mg protein to 584 pg/mg protein. The TGF‐β1 protein level was significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastasis compared with patients who were without lymph node metastasis (P = 0.02), and the TGF‐β1 protein level was significantly higher in patients with Stage III disease (TNM classification) compared with patients who had Stage I and II disease (P = 0.03). There was no significant correlation between the TGF‐β1 protein level and any of the other clinicopathologic factors that were considered. A significant positive correlation between TGF‐β1 protein level and MVD was noted (P < 0.01). Furthermore, in patients with adenocarcinoma, a significant correlation between TGF‐β1 protein level and prognosis was detected by multivariate analysis (P = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS TGF‐β1 seems to affect tumor angiogenesis and to play an important role in tumor progression in patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma. Furthermore, the TGF‐β1 protein level may be an independent predictor of survival in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung. Cancer 2001;91:964–71. © 2001 American Cancer Society.

Two theories explaining the mechanism for the manifestation of cough without wheeze in patients with cough variant asthma (CVA) are either a higher wheezing threshold or a milder degree of airway hyperresponsiveness. A significant proportion of patients diagnosed as having CVA eventually develop wheezing. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this change in the manifestation of asthma was associated with a decrease in wheezing threshold and/or an increase in airway hyperresponsiveness.Thirty-six children (7±15 yrs) with CVA were prospectively studied for 4 yrs. Bronchial provocation tests with methacholine using the stepwise increasing concentration technique were performed annually to measure the provocative cumulative dose producing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (PD20). Wheezing thresholds were additionally determined at the initiation of and the end of the study (development of wheezing, or after 4 yrs).Sixteen (Group 1) of 29 patients available for the follow-up developed clinical wheezing during the period; 13 patients (Group 2) stayed as CVA or their cough resolved. There was no significant change in wheezing thresholds from the initiation to the end of the study (Group 1 The results suggest that an increase in airway hyperresponsiveness, but not a decrease in wheezing threshold, may have a pathogenetic role in the development of wheezing during the course of cough variant asthma in childhood. Eur Respir J 1999; 14: 302±308.

TGF-beta1 seems to affect tumor angiogenesis and to play an important role in tumor progression in patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma. Furthermore, the TGF-beta1 protein level may be an independent predictor of survival in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Background: Airway eosinophilia is one of the hallmarks of asthma. Eotaxin may play an important role in eosinophil recruitment. Objectives: To examine the relationship between eotaxin levels in the sputum and eosinophilic inflammation. Methods: The sputum was obtained from 11 non-smokers, 14 smokers and 13 asthmatic patients using a sputum induction method. Eotaxin and interleukin (IL)-5 levels in the sputum were determined by ELISA and immunocytochemical analysis. Results: Asthmatic patients had eosinophilia and smokers showed neutrophilia in their sputum. The eotaxin level in the sputum was significantly higher in smokers (median 412.5, range 91.1–872.2 pg/ml) and asthmatic patients (351.0, 185.0–928.0 pg/ml) compared with non-smokers (123.2, 0–369.0 pg/ml; both p < 0.05). IL-5 was detected in the sputum of 1 non-smoker, none of the smokers and 4 asthmatic patients. The percentage of eotaxin-positive cells was higher in smokers and asthmatic patients than in non-smokers, but the percentage of IL-5-positive cells was significantly higher only in asthmatic patients (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the elevated eotaxin level in the sputum does not always accompany the increase in eosinophils, and cooperation with another cytokine such as IL-5 may be required for the recruitment of eosinophils.

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