Maximizing morphologic data from lung biopsies from normal and asthmatic humans.

Abstract

Obtaining lung biopsies from human patients is important because information gained from studies of the lung cells, tissue, and molecules is useful for both diagnosis and research. Because of their value these specimens should be handled carefully and analyzed with the best procedures available. Two morphologic techniques, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization, are particularly useful because they are sensitive and yield highly specific information. When combined with analysis of mRNAs by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, biochemical and morphologic data can be obtained from these small specimens. Multidisciplinary approaches such as these are proving to be very promising approaches to understanding asthma.