Effect of respiratory tract viral infection on murine airway beta adrenoceptor function , distribution and density. (1992 Jun)
effect of respiratory tract viral infection on murine airway beta adrenoceptor function , distribution and density . 1 . The effects of a respiratory tract viral infection on beta adrenoceptor density , distribution and function were investigated in murine airways . 2 . following intranasal inoculation of CBA / CaH mice with influenza A / PR 8 / 34 virus , the virus proliferated rapidly in trachea ( peak titres 2 days post inoculation ) and lung ( peak titres 4 6 days post inoculation ) . respiratory tract viral infection was associated with a significant increase in lung weight ( 88 higher than control mice at day 6 post inoculation ) that was related temporally to the development of peripheral lung inflammation and consolidation . 3 . analysis of specific binding of 125I cyanopindolol to beta adrenoceptors revealed that on days 2 , 4 and 8 post inoculation with virus , mouse isolated tracheal sections contained , on average , 40 more beta adrenoceptors than tracheal sections from time matched control mice . subsequent quantitative autoradiographic studies demonstrated that this increase in total tracheal beta adrenoceptors was due primarily to a 90 increase in the density of beta adrenoceptors in the tracheal epithelium in virus infected mice . 4 . In contrast , virus infection had no significant effect on the density of beta adrenoceptors in tracheal airway smooth muscle , although within 2 days of inoculation with virus , mouse tracheal smooth muscle segments were approximately 2 fold …

Isobutyraldehyde administered by inhalation ( whole body exposure ) for up to thirteen weeks or two years was a respiratory … (1998 Jun)
isobutyraldehyde administered by inhalation ( whole body exposure ) for up to thirteen weeks or two years was a respiratory tract toxicant but was not carcinogenic in F344 / N rats and b6c3f1 mice . isobutyraldehyde ( a chemical structurally related to formaldehyde and used as a flavoring agent ) was studied for toxicity and carcinogenicity by exposing male and female F344 / N rats and b6c3f1 mice . animals were exposed to isobutyraldehyde vapors 6 h per day , 5 days per week for up to 13 weeks or 2 years . In the 13 week studies , groups of 10 male and 10 female F344 / N rats and b6c3f1 mice were exposed to concentrations of 0 , 500 , 1000 , 2000 , 4000 , or 8000 ppm . chemical related body weight depression and deaths occurred in rats and mice exposed to 4000 and 8000 ppm . necrosis of the epithelium accompanied with acute inflammatory reaction was observed in the nasal turbinate , larynx , and trachea of rats exposed to 8000 ppm . exposure of rats to 4000 ppm resulted in metaplasia of the nasal respiratory epithelium , inflammation , degeneration of the olfactory epithelium , and osteodystrophy of the nasal turbinate bone . In the 13 week mouse study , exposure to 8000 ppm or 4000 ppm resulted in necrosis of the epithelium lining of the nasal turbinates . osteodystrophy of the nasal turbinate bone and squamous metaplasia of the nasal respiratory epithelium were …

Four reasons to consider a novel class of innate immune molecules in the oral epithelium. (2003 Nov)
Four reasons to consider a novel class of innate immune molecules in the oral epithelium . An expanding number of innate immune molecules occupy the epithelial frontier . This review introduces a recently recognized class of mammalian proteins with similarity to plunc ( palate , lung and nasal epithelium clone ) , which is itself related to the host defense protein BPI ( bactericidal / permeability increasing protein ) . Four emerging lines of evidence unite the plunc like proteins : conserved genetic structure , epithelial expression , three dimensional protein similarity , and a physiological response to injury or inflammation . By analogy to known proteins of the innate immune system , an emerging hypothesis for this family is that they act as sensors of Gram negative bacteria in the oral cavity , among other areas .

Asthma and the unified airway. (2007 Apr)
asthma and the unified airway . inflammatory processes of the upper and lower airway commonly co exist . patients with upper respiratory illnesses such as allergic rhinitis and acute and chronic rhinosinusitis often present to both otolaryngologists and primary care physicians for treatment of their symptoms of nasal and sinus disease . these patients often have concurrent lower respiratory illnesses such as asthma that may be contributing to their overall symptoms and quality of life . unfortunately , asthma frequently remains undiagnosed in this population . It was the objective of this paper to examine the relationship between upper respiratory illnesses such as rhinitis and rhinosinusitis and lower respiratory illnesses such as asthma , and to provide a framework for primary care and specialty physicians to approach these illnesses as a spectrum of inflammatory disease . The present manuscript was developed by a multidisciplinary workgroup sponsored by the american academy of otolaryngic allergy . health care providers in various specialties contributed to the manuscript through preparation of written materials and through participation in a panel discussion held in august 2006 . Each author was tasked with reviewing a specific content area and preparing a written summary for inclusion in this final document . respiratory inflammation commonly affects both the upper and lower respiratory tracts , often concurrently . physicians who are treating patients with symptoms of allergic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis must be vigilant to the presence of asthma among these patients . appropriate diagnostic methods should be used to identify …

Urinary leukotriene E ( 4 ) , eosinophil protein X , and nasal eosinophil cationic protein are not associated with … (2001 Sep)
urinary leukotriene E ( 4 ) , eosinophil protein X , and nasal eosinophil cationic protein are not associated with respiratory symptoms in 1 year old children . background : eosinophilic airways inflammation forms the pathophysiologic basis for a proportion of children at risk of developing recurrent wheezing . early preventive measures and / or anti inflammatory treatment may be guided by the identification of such children . We aimed to study the relationship between respiratory symptoms and indirect markers of airway inflammation . methods : We measured eosinophil protein X ( EPX ) and leukotriene E ( 4 ) ( LTE ( 4 ) ) in urine , as well as eosinophil cationic protein ( ECP ) in nasal lavages , in a random sample of 1 year old children with a family history of atopy who participated in an international multicenter study on the prevention of allergy in europe . For urine analyses , 10 children with upper respiratory illness and 19 healthy children without a family history of atopy were also enrolled . endogenous urinary LTE ( 4 ) was separated by HPLC and determined by enzyme immunoassay with a specific antibody . The concentrations of nasal ECP and urinary EPX were determined by RIA analysis . results : One hundred and ten children ( mean age : 1 . 05 / 0 . 1 years ) were enrolled . prolonged coughing during the first year of life was reported in 29 children , wheezy breathing in …

Spontaneous lesions of nasal cavity in aging F344 rats and BDF1 mice. (1997 Jun)
spontaneous lesions of nasal cavity in aging F344 rats and BDF1 mice . The outline of spontaneous lesions of the nasal cavity that were commonly observed in F344 rats and BDF1 mice used as untreated control groups in ten 2 year carcinogenicity studies were presented . In rats , the common spontaneous lesions were eosinophilic change of the respiratory epithelium and the olfactory epithelium , respiratory metaplasia of glands and the olfactory epithelium , foreign body inflammation , deposit of calcium , and thrombus . In mice , the common spontaneous lesions were eosinophilic change of the respiratory epithelium and olfactory epithelium , and respiratory metaplasia of glands and the olfactory epithelium . Some of these lesions revealed either species or sex related differences of incidence .

Obliterative airway disease after heterotopic tracheal xenotransplantation : pathogenesis and prevention using new immunosuppressive agents. (1997 Sep)
obliterative airway disease after heterotopic tracheal xenotransplantation : pathogenesis and prevention using new immunosuppressive agents . background : The purpose of this study was to investigate whether obliterative bronchiolitis might occur after xenogenic pulmonary transplantation . A model for obliterative airway disease ( OAD ) after tracheal allograft transplantation in the rat undergoes tracheal obliteration with histologic features characteristic of obliterative bronchiolitis in human lung transplant recipients . using this model , the pathogenesis of OAD and its prevention with immunosuppressive drugs was studied in rat recipients of hamster tracheal grafts . methods : tracheae from 30 hamsters ( xenografts ) or 23 brown norway rats ( allografts ) were implanted and wrapped in the greater omentum of untreated lewis rats . The grafts were removed on day 1 , 3 , 7 , 14 , 21 , or 28 after transplantation and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and masson s trichrome and by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence ( IFL ) techniques . In addition , 25 recipients were treated with cyclosporine ( CsA , 10 mg / kg p . o . ) , leflunomide ( LFM , 20 mg / kg p . o . ) , or rapamycin ( RPM , 6 mg / kg i . p . ) for 14 or 21 days ( 5 animals per treatment group ) . visual and morphometric analyses were used to evaluate the extent of airway obliteration , luminal coverage by respiratory or flattened cuboidal epithelium , and extent …

Metaplastic changes of nasal respiratory epithelium in rats exposed to hexamethylphosphoramide ( HMPA ) by inhalation. (1982 Mar)
metaplastic changes of nasal respiratory epithelium in rats exposed to hexamethylphosphoramide ( HMPA ) by inhalation . Rats exposed by inhalation to hexamethylphosphoramide ( HMPA ) at concentrations of 50 , 100 , 400 , and 4000 parts per billion ( ppb ) for 6 24 months revealed nasal tumors and squamous metaplasia with inflammation in the nasal epithelium , but no changes were observed at 10 ppb . The ciliated cells were most susceptible to HMPA , showing degenerative changes , with abnormal cilia and extensive deciliation . The desquamated nasal epithelium was repaired initially by undifferentiated mucus or microvillous cuboidal cells , and subsequently the lining cells were replaced with squamous cells migrating upward from the basal layer . In the early stage of squamous metaplasia , thickened nasal epithelium revealed indifferent cells , undifferentiated glandular cells , transitional cells from glandular to squamous cells , poorly differentiated squamous cells , and intermediate cells showing features of glandula and squamous differentiation . subsequently , the undifferentiated glandular cells were replaced mainly with the squamous or intermediate cells . the undifferentiated glandular cells appeared to be biphasic reserve cells capable of differentiating to glandular or squamous cells . The intermediate cells appeared to be derived from the undifferentiated glandular cells and converted into keratinizing squamous cells . numerous secretory vesicles and mucus droplets were observed in the squamous cells adjacent to the keratinized area and keratin plates .

Nasal polyposis pathogenesis : a flow cytometric and immunohistochemical study of epithelial cell proliferation. (1997 Feb)
nasal polyposis pathogenesis : a flow cytometric and immunohistochemical study of epithelial cell proliferation . In nasal polyps , constantly associated with chronic inflammation , frequent epithelial morphological changes ( squamous metaplasia , secretory hyperplasia ) suggest a dysregulation of epithelial cell proliferation . Cell proliferation in nasal respiratory epithelium was therefore evaluated in nasal polyposis . In 20 patients , we compared cell proliferation in mucosa from the inferior turbinate to these in nasal polyps using two methods : Flow cytometry analyzing first the ploidy and the percentage of S phase cells ( propidium iodide DNA labeling ) , secondly the percentage of Ki 67 labeled cells and the green fluorescent index ( fluorescein conjugated anti human Ki 67 antigen labeling , and thirdly the percentage of Ki 67 labeled cells being in S phase . immunohistochemistry , quantifying the expression of Ki 67 antigen in the epithelium permitting to calculate a Ki 67 index . All cell populations studied were diploid . percentages of S phase cells , Ki 67 labeled cells , Ki 67 labeled cells being in the S phase and green fluorescence index was significantly higher in nasal polyps than in mucosa Ki 67 index were significantly higher in nasal polyps than in mucosa in the epithelium . epithelial cell proliferation which is therefore increased in nasal polyp could play an important role in nasal polyposis pathogenesis and its relationships with inflammation can be suggested .

Waldeyer s ring and otitis media : the nasopharyngeal tonsil and otitis media. (1999 Dec)
waldeyer s ring and otitis media : the nasopharyngeal tonsil and otitis media . This overview of the relationship between the nasopharyngeal tonsil and otitis media will review three important concepts : ( 1 ) adenoid inflammation leads to inflammatory obstruction of the eustachian tube ; ( 2 ) early colonization of the adenoid with the three major bacterial pathogens of otitis media is the most important factor in the early pathogenesis of otitis media ; ( 3 ) the local immune system in the adenoid particularly specific secretory IgA directed against both viruses and bacterial pathogens are probably genetically controlled and represent the immunological factor in protecting the host against invasion of these agents in the eustachian tube and middle ear . This overview of the relationship between the adenoid and the development of otitis media emphasizes that nasopharyngeal colonization with the three major middle ear pathogens is among the most important risk factors in the pathogenesis of otitis media . inasmuch as these pathogens normally reside in the nasopharynges of most healthy children , the factors which trigger development of otitis media need to be carefully evaluated . among these two triggers are viral infections and upper respiratory tract allergy .

Comparative analysis of whole saliva proteomes for the screening of biomarkers for oral lichen planus. (2006 Nov)
comparative analysis of whole saliva proteomes for the screening of biomarkers for oral lichen planus . objective : To screen possible biomarkers in whole saliva from oral lichen planus ( OLP ) patients by proteomic techniques . methods : Two dimensional electrophoresis and matrix assisted laser desorption / ionization time of flight mass spectrometry were applied to whole saliva of OLP patients and controls , and the differential protein components were analyzed with peptide mass fingerprinting and database searching . results : A total of 31 protein spots representing 14 proteins with at least two fold difference in abundance between OLP and controls were identified . among these , the expression of urinary prokallikrein was increased while short palate , lung and nasal epithelium carcinoma associated protein ( plunc ) was decreased in all samples of OLP . conclusions : urinary prokallikrein and plunc may be the new biomarkers which play a role in inflammation and immune response of OLP .

Function and regulation of splunc1 protein in mycoplasma infection and allergic inflammation. (2007 Sep)
function and regulation of splunc1 protein in mycoplasma infection and allergic inflammation . respiratory infections , including mycoplasma pneumoniae ( Mp ) , contribute to asthma pathobiology . To date , the mechanisms underlying the increased susceptibility of asthmatics to airway Mp infection remain unclear . short palate , lung , and nasal epithelium clone 1 ( splunc1 ) protein is a recently described large airway epithelial cell derived molecule that was predicted to exert host defense activities . however , splunc1 function and regulation in an infectious or allergic milieu are still unknown . We determined host defense and anti inflammatory functions of splunc1 protein in Mp infection and the regulation of splunc1 by Mp and allergic inflammation ( e . g . , IL 13 ) . splunc1 function was examined in Mp or human airway epithelial cell cultures by using splunc1 recombinant protein , overexpression and RNA interference . human and mouse bronchial epithelial splunc1 was examined using immunostaining , western blotting , elisa , laser capture microdissection , and real time PCR . mouse models of Mp infection and allergic inflammation and air liquid interface cultures of normal human primary bronchial epithelial cells were used to study splunc1 regulation by Mp and IL 13 . We found that : 1 ) splunc1 protein decreased Mp levels and inhibited epithelial IL 8 production induced by Mp derived lipoproteins ; 2 ) normal human and mouse large airway epithelial cells expressed high levels of splunc1 ; and 3 …

Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide induces CF like alteration of protein secretion by human tracheal gland cells. (1998 Jan)
pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide induces CF like alteration of protein secretion by human tracheal gland cells . human tracheal gland ( HTG ) serous cells are now believed to play a major role in the physiopathology of cystic fibrosis . because of the persistent inflammation and the specific infection by pseudomonas aeruginosa in the lung , we looked for the action of the lipopolysaccharide ( LPS ) of this bacteria on human tracheal gland cells in culture by studying the secretion of the secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor ( SLPI ) which is a specific serous secretory marker of these cells . treatment with pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS resulted in a significant dose dependent increase in the basal production of SLPI ( 250 / 25 ) whilst the SLPI transcript mRNA levels remained unchanged . This LPS induced increase in secretion was inhibited by glucocorticoides . furthermore , LPS treatment of HTG cells induces a loss of responsiveness to carbachol and isoproterenol but not to adenosine triphosphate . these findings indicate that HTG cells treated by pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS have the same behavior as those previously observed with CF HTG cells . exploration by using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction amplification showed that LPS downregulated cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator ( CFTR ) mRNA expression in HTG cells indicative of a link between CFTR function and consequent CF like alteration in protein secretory process .

Two year and lifetime toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of ozone in b6c3f1 mice. (1997 Mar)
Two year and lifetime toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of ozone in b6c3f1 mice . To evaluate the toxicity and carcinogenic potential of long term exposure to ozone , b6c3f1 mice were exposed by whole body inhalation to 0 , 0 . 12 , 0 . 5 , or 1 . 0 ppm and 0 , 0 . 5 , or 1 . 0 ppm ozone for 24 or 30 mo ( lifetime ) , respectively . The incidence of alveolar / bronchiolar adenomas and carcinomas ( combined ) increased ( p 0 . 05 ) in female mice exposed to 1 . 0 ppm for 24 or 30 mo and marginally increased ( p 0 . 05 ) in male mice exposed to concentrations of 0 . 5 or 1 . 0 ppm . An increased incidence of nonneoplastic lesions were observed in the nasal cavities and in the centriacinar region of the lung of mice exposed to 0 . 5 or 1 . 0 ppm for 24 and 30 mo . nasal cavity lesions were mild and included hyaline degeneration , hyperplasia , squamous metaplasia , fibrosis and suppurative inflammation of the transitional and respiratory epithelium of the lateral wall , and atrophy of the olfactory epithelium . Lung lesions included replacement of the epithelium of the alveolar ducts and adjacent alveolar septa with epithelium similar to that normally found in terminal bronchioles ( metaplasia ) and associated alveolar histiocytosis . based on the results of these studies , …

Coculture of mesenchymal stem cells and respiratory epithelial cells to engineer a human composite respiratory mucosa. (2004 Dec)
coculture of mesenchymal stem cells and respiratory epithelial cells to engineer a human composite respiratory mucosa . In this study , we describe a novel in vitro reconstitution system for tracheal epithelium that could be useful for investigating the cellular and molecular interaction of epithelial and mesenchymal cells . In this system , a transwell insert was used as a basement membrane on which adult bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells ( MSCs ) were cultured on the lower side whereas normal human bronchial epithelial ( NHBE ) cells were cultured on the opposite upper side . under air liquid interface conditions , the epithelial cells maintained their capacity to progressively differentiate and form a functional epithelium , leading to the differentiation of mucin producing cells between days 14 and 21 . analysis of apical secretions showed that mucin production increased over time , with peak secretion on day 21 for NHBE cells alone , whereas mucin secretion by NHBE cells cocultured with MSCs remained constant between days 18 and day 25 . This in vitro model of respiratory epithelium , which exhibited morphologic , histologic , and functional features of a tracheal mucosa , could help to understand interactions between mesenchymal and epithelial cells and mechanisms involved in mucus production , inflammation , and airway repair . It might also play an important role in the design of an composite prosthesis for tracheal replacement .

Effects of formaldehyde on xenotransplanted human respiratory epithelium. (1992 Oct)
effects of formaldehyde on xenotransplanted human respiratory epithelium . A laboratory animal model that permits the exposure of xenotransplanted human respiratory epithelium to formaldehyde was used to study the effects of formaldehyde alone or in combination with the ultimate carcinogenic metabolite of benzo a pyrene , benzo a pyrene diol epoxide . epithelial cells obtained from autopsies of full term human fetuses or infants less than one year old were isolated , amplified in primary cultures , and then inoculated into rat tracheas from which the epithelial layer had been removed . these tracheas then were sealed and transplanted subcutaneously into irradiated athymic nude mice . Four weeks after transplantation , the tracheal lumen was completely covered by epithelium , most of which was of the mucociliary respiratory type . At this stage , tracheal transplants containing tracheobronchial epithelium from 20 different human infant donors were exposed to silastic devices containing 0 , 0 . 5 , 1 , or 2 mg of formaldehyde . The tracheal transplants were examined histologically 2 , 4 , 8 , or 16 weeks after transplantation . before being killed , all animals were injected with a single pulse of tritiated thymidine . important epithelial alterations were seen in the transplants treated with formaldehyde , with a maximum effect visible two weeks after exposure . In most cases , the highest dose of 2 mg produced numerous areas of epithelial erosion and inflammation ; however , this effect was not as evident with the …

Simultaneous LFA 1 and CD40 ligand antagonism prevents airway remodeling in orthotopic airway transplantation : implications for the role of … (2005 Mar)
simultaneous LFA 1 and CD40 ligand antagonism prevents airway remodeling in orthotopic airway transplantation : implications for the role of respiratory epithelium as a modulator of fibrosis . airway remodeling is a prominent feature of certain immune mediated lung diseases such as asthma and chronic lung transplant rejection . under conditions of airway inflammation , the respiratory epithelium may serve an important role in this remodeling process . given the proposed role of respiratory epithelium in nonspecific injury models , we investigated the respiratory epithelium in an immune specific orthotopic airway transplant model . MHC mismatched tracheal transplants in mice were used to generate alloimmune mediated airway lesions . attenuation of this immune injury and alteration of antidonor reactivity were achieved by the administration of combined anti LFA 1 / anti cd40l mAbs . By contrast , without immunotherapy , transplanted airways remodeled with a flattening of respiratory epithelium and significant subepithelial fibrosis . unopposed alloimmune injury for 10 days was associated with subsequent epithelial transformation and subepithelial fibrosis that could not be reversed with immunotherapy . The relining of donor airways with recipient derived epithelium was delayed with immunotherapy resulting in partially chimeric airways by 28 days . partial chimerism was sufficient to prevent luminal fibrosis . however , epithelial chimerism was also associated with airway remodeling . therefore , there appears to be an intimate relationship between the morphology and level of chimerism of the respiratory epithelium and the degree of airway remodeling following alloimmune injury .

Preclinical modelling using nasal epithelial cells for the evaluation of herbal extracts for the treatment of upper airway diseases. (2008 May)
preclinical modelling using nasal epithelial cells for the evaluation of herbal extracts for the treatment of upper airway diseases . The epithelium constitutes the interface between the internal milieu and the external environment , and the nasal epithelium is the initial point of contact for respiratory viruses , airborne allergens and environmental pollutants . The major function of the nasal epithelium was regarded to be primarily that of a physical barrier , but recent studies clearly indicate that its cells are metabolically very active with the capacity to modulate a variety of inflammatory processes through the action of an array of receptor mediated events . This review summarizes the current view of the active role of the nasal epithelium in the inflammation of the upper airways and its possible modulation by herbal extracts to treat diseases of the upper airways such as common cold and sinusitis .

Tumor promotion studies in rat tracheal epithelium. (1983 Sep)
tumor promotion studies in rat tracheal epithelium . The tracheal epithelium of the fischer 344 rat is histologically very similar to that of the human bronchus . Also , carcinomas of tracheal origin in F 344 rats are similar in morphology to human bronchogenic carcinomas . tumor promotion in rat tracheal epithelium was studied by using two model systems . The first is a heterotopic transplant system in which rat tracheas are implanted subcutaneously on the backs of isogenic recipents . In the first system , the epithelium was topically exposed to pellets containing 7 , 12 dimethylbenz ( a ) anthracene ( DMBA ) , used as the initiating agent , followed by pellets containing the phorbol ester 12 O tetradecanoylphorbol 13 acetate ( TPA ) , the promoting agent . after 98 weeks , a three to fourfold increase in the percentage of tracheas having malignant tumors was seen in tracheal transplants receiving both DMBA and TPA compared to DMBA alone . exposure of the tracheal grafts to TPA alone resulted in epithelial hyperplasia and inflammation , but no dysplastic lesions . The second system is an organ culture cell culture system in which small pieces of trachea are grown in organ culture , then epithelial cells are grown from these pieces as primary cell cultures . The organ cultures were exposed to the direct alkylating agent , N methyl N nitro N nitrosoguanidine ( MNNG ) used as the initiator , then multiple short exposures to TPA …

Expression and localization of COX 2 in human airways and cultured airway epithelial cells. (1999 Sep)
expression and localization of COX 2 in human airways and cultured airway epithelial cells . cyclo oxygenase is the rate limiting enzyme in the prostanoid pathway . although expression of the inducible isoform of cyclo oxygenase ( COX 2 ) is associated with cytokine mediated inflammation , recent evidence suggests a homeostatic role for epithelial COX 2 in the gastrointestinal tract . The aim of this study was to examine the expression and localization of COX 2 in human airway epithelium both in vivo and in vitro . human airway specimens from patients undergoing lung resection surgery for primary lung tumours ( n 10 ) or nasal mucosal resection for non inflammatory nasal obstruction ( n 5 ) were examined for COX 2 expression by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry . COX 2 expression was also studied in two human airway epithelial cell lines ( BEAS 2B and A549 ) using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and northern and western blot analysis . COX 2 messenger ribonucleic acid ( mRNA ) and protein were localized to individual columnar epithelial cells and to airway resident inflammatory cells in 9 / 10 lower and 5 / 5 upper airway specimens . expression of COX 2 did not correlate with evidence of airway inflammation . focal expression of COX 2 mRNA and protein was observed in bronchus associated lymphoid tissue . Both COX 2 mRNA and protein were detected in BEAS 2B and A549 cells cultured under standard conditions . In conclusion , …