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Objectives and methods: In idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), proliferation of fibroblasts and increased matrix deposition result in pulmonary damage and respiratory insufficiency. We cultured human fibroblasts from lung biopsies of healthy adults and of three patients with IPF (histologically usual interstitial pneumonitis, UIP) in order to compare proliferation ([³H]thymidine incorporation, cell count) and matrix protein expression (immune fluorescence, quantification of fibronectin synthesis using time-resolved immune fluorescence) of normal and UIP fibroblasts in response to various growth factors. Findings: The growth factors platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF). epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ1), and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) stimulate proliferation of normal lung fibroblasts significantly more than proliferation of UIP fibroblasts. Immunofluorescence reveals extensive expression of collagen I, collagen III, and fibronectin induced by serum, TGFβ1, and TNFα. This expression is more pronounced in UIP fibroblasts than in normal fibroblasts. Quantification of fibronectin synthesis reveals an enhanced fibronectin synthesis by UIP fibroblasts in response to PDGF, EGF, IGF-1, IGF-2, TNFα, TGFβ1, and FGF-2). Conclusions: Fibroblasts from normal and UIP lungs differ in their response to growth factors: Whereas normal fibroblasts show a predominantly proliferative response, UIP fibroblasts show an enhanced synthetic activity. Different fibroblast responses may contribute to progressive pulmonary fibrosis in patients with UIP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular mortality and increases adiponectin concentrations, but effects might differ according to sex and beverage consumed.Research Design and Methods: A total of 72 healthy individuals (22-56 years) were enrolled in this randomized controlled crossover trial. After washout, two interventions for 3 weeks followed: ethanol (concentration 12.5%), beer (5.6%), or red wine (12.5%) equivalent to 30 g ethanol/day for men and 20 g/day for women or the same de-alcoholized beverages or water. Adiponectin was measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: Among women, adiponectin significantly increased after consuming red wine (29.8%, P < 0.05) and increased among men after ethanol solution (17.4%, P < 0.05) and consuming beer (16.1%, P < 0.05). De-alcoholized beverages had no substantial effect on adiponectin concentrations.Conclusions: Moderate amounts of ethanol-containing beverages increased adiponectin concentrations, but sex-specific effects might depend on type of beverage consumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]