A prostacyclin analogue, iloprost, protects from bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice
Metabolites of arachidonic acid such as prostacyclin (PGI2) have been shown to participate in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic mediators. In this investigation, we examined whether iloprost, a stable PGI2 analogue, could prevent bleomycin-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in a mouse model.
Methods: Mice received a single intratracheal injection of bleomycin with or without intraperitoneal iloprost.
Pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis were analysed by histological evaluation, cellular composition of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and hydroxyproline content. Lung mechanics were measured.
We also analysed the expression of inflammatory mediators in BAL fluid and lung tissue.
Results: Administration of iloprost significantly improved survival rate and reduced weight loss in the mice induced by bleomycin. The severe inflammatory response and fibrotic changes were significantly attenuated in the mice treated with iloprost as shown by reduction in infiltration of inflammatory cells into the airways and pulmonary parenchyma, diminution in interstitial collagen deposition, and lung hydroxyproline content.
Iloprost significantly improved lung static compliance and tissue elastance. It increased the expression of IFNgamma and CXCL10 in lung tissue measured by RT-PCR and their levels in BAL fluid as measured by ELISA.
Levels of TNFalpha, IL-6 and TGFbeta1 were lowered by iloprost.
Conclusions: Iloprost prevents bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, possibly by upregulating antifibrotic mediators (IFNgamma and CXCL10) and downregulating pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines (TNFalpha, IL-6, and TGFbeta1). Prostacyclin may represent a novel pharmacological agent for treating pulmonary fibrotic diseases.
Author: Yuanjue ZhuYong LiuWeixun ZhouRuolan XiangLei JiangKewu HuangYu XiaoZijian GuoJinming Gao
Credits/Source: Respiratory Research 2010, 11:34
Published on: 2010-03-20
Copyright by the authors listed above - made available via BioMedCentral (Open Access). Please
make sure to read our disclaimer prior to contacting 7thSpace Interactive. To contact our editors, visit our online helpdesk. If you wish submit your own press release, click here.
Social Bookmarking
RETWEET This! | Digg this! | Post to del.icio.us | Post to Furl | Add to Netscape | Add to Yahoo! | Rojo
|
|
