AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightIn conclusion, the present study revealed thatalveolar type II epithelial cells were severely proliferated in the sheep lungs with pneumonia and produced most of surfactant proteinscompared to normal type II cells.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of pulmonary surfactant proteins (SP- A, SP-B, proSP-C) associated with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), thyroid transcription factor-I (TTF-I), and lymphocyticphenotypes (CD3 +T and CD79αcy +B cells) in ovine lungs with exudative and verminous pneumonia. Pneumonic lungs (n = 50) wereclassified as presenting fibrinous bronchopneumonia (n = 16), abscessing necrotic bronchopneumonia (n = 10), verminous pneumonia(n = 15), and interstitial pneumonia (n = 9). The lungs with fibrinous bronchopneumonia displayed consolidation of lobes with adhesionto surrounding tissues. The lungs with verminous pneumonia were characterized by lungworm sections in airways. Type II pneumocyteswere highly proliferated in the pneumonic lungs and revealed intense immune positivity for the surfactant proteins. Proliferated type IIcells, lymphocytes, and fibroblasts showed a strong immune reaction for PCNA. TTF-I positivity occurred in the ovoid nuclei of alveolarII epithelial cells. Lymphoid infiltrations revealed a positive reaction to the CD markers. In conclusion, the present study revealed thatalveolar type II epithelial cells were severely proliferated in the sheep lungs with pneumonia and produced most of surfactant proteinscompared to normal type II cells. Consequently, type II cells are very important in the restoration of damaged lungs, and surfactantapoproteins might play an important role in the host defense mechanisms against involved microorganisms.