Objective To investigate the effects of caveolin-1 scaffolding domain peptide ( CSD-p)on expressions of extracellular matrix and Smads in human fetal lung fibroblasts. Methods Human fetal lung fibroblasts were cultured in vitro and divided into four groups. A control group: the cells were cultured in DMEMwithout TGF-β1 or CSD-p. A CSD-p treatment group: the cells were cultured in DMEMcontaining 5 μmol /L CSD-p. A TGF-β1 treatment group: the cells were cultured in DMEMcontaining 5 μg/L TGF-β1 .A TGF-β1 + CSD-p treatment group: the cells were cultured in DMEM containing 5 μg/L TGF-β1 and 5 μmol /L CSD-p. Caveolin -1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. Caveolin-1, collagen-Ⅰ, α-SMA, p-Smad2,p-Smad3 and Smad7 proteins were measured by Western blot. Results Compared with the control group,the Caveolin -1 mRNA and protein expressions in the cells of TGF-β1 group significantly reduced ( mRNA:0. 404 ±0. 027 vs. 1. 540 ±0. 262; protein: 0. 278 ±0. 054 vs. 1. 279 ±0. 085; P lt; 0. 01) , and the expression levels of collagen-Ⅰ and α-SMA proteins significantly increased ( collagen-Ⅰ: 1. 127 ±0. 078 vs.0. 234 ±0. 048; α-SMA: 1. 028 ±0. 058 vs. 0. 295 ±0. 024) . Meanwhile, the expression levels of p-Smad2 ( 1. 162 ±0. 049 vs. 0. 277 ±0. 014) and p-Smad3 proteins ( 1. 135 ±0. 057 vs. 0. 261 ±0. 046) increased with statistical significance ( P lt; 0. 01) , but the expression level of Smad7 protein significantly reduced( 0. 379 ±0. 004 vs. 1. 249 ±0. 046, P lt;0. 001) . In the CSD-p group, CSD-p had no significant effects on the expressions of above proteins compared with the control group. But in the TGF-β1 +CSD-p group, the overexpressions of collagen-Ⅰ, α-SMA, p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 induced by TGF-β1 were obviously inhibited by CSD-p ( collagen-Ⅰ: 0. 384 ±0. 040 vs. 1. 127 ±0. 078; α-SMA: 0. 471 ±0. 071 vs. 1. 127 ±0. 078;p-Smad2: 0. 618 ±0. 096 vs. 1. 162 ±0. 049; p-Smad3: 0. 461 ±0. 057 vs. 1. 135 ±0. 057; P lt; 0. 01) .Otherwise, the up-regulation of Smad7 ( 0.924 ±0. 065 vs. 0.379 ±0. 004) was found. Conclusions CSD-p can reduce fibroblast collagen-I and α-SMA protein expressions stimulated by TGF-β1 , possibly through regulation of TGF-β1 /Smads signaling pathway. It is suggested that an increase in caveolin -1 function through the use of CSD-p may be an intervention role in pulmonary fibrosis.
目的:探讨贯叶连翘提取物对百草枯诱导的大鼠肺纤维化模型的干预作用及机制。方法:20只Sprague-dawly大鼠随机等分为4组:百草枯组,贯叶连翘提取物组,百草枯+贯叶连翘提取物组和对照组。百草枯液按80mg/kg一次性灌胃，贯叶连翘提取物按400mg/kg灌胃，连用3d,对照组仅用生理盐水。于21d处死后取肺脏行HE染色鉴定,并用碱水解法测羟脯氨酸含量,同时以八木国夫荧光法测定肺组织脂质过氧化产物,盐酸羟胺法测定组织总超氧化物歧化酶的酶活力。结果:百草枯染毒动物可致肺纤维化,羟脯氨酸和丙二醛含量明显增高。百草枯+贯叶连翘提取物组与百草枯组比较,第21天时肺纤维化减轻,羟脯氨酸和丙二醛含量减少(Plt;0.05),与对照组相比总超氧化物歧化酶无明显变化(Pgt;0.05)。结论:贯叶连翘提取物对百草枯诱导的大鼠肺纤维化模型有抑制作用,其机制可能与抑制脂质过氧化有关。
Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic at the end of December 2019, more than 85% of the population in China has been infected. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mainly affects the respiratory system, especially the lungs. The mortality rate of patients with severe infection is high. A percentage of 6% to 10% of patients will eventually develop into COVID-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS), which requires mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Some patients who survive acute lung injury will subsequently develop post COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis (PCPF). Both fully treated CARDS and severe PCPF are suitable candidates for lung transplantation. Due to the special course, evaluation strategies are different from those used in patients with common end-stage lung disease. After lung transplantation in COVID-19 patients, special treatment is required, including standardized nucleic acid testing for the novel coronavirus, adjustment strategy of immunosuppressive drugs, and rational use of antiviral drugs, which is a big challenge for the postoperative management of lung transplantation. This consensus was evidence-based written and was reached by experts after multiple rounds of discussions, providing reference for assessment and postoperative management of patients with interstitial pneumonia after COVID-19 infection.
Objective To study the inhibitory effects of curcumin on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats at the fibrosing stage and explore its possible mechanism.Methods 96 male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal control group，a fibrosis model group，a fibrosis model treated with prednisone group and a fibrosis model treated with curcumin group.Pulmonary fibrosis were induced by instilled bleomycin through tracheal.From day 15 after bleomycin administration，the curcumin group and prednisone group were given curcumin（300 mg/kg） or prednisone（5 mg/kg） per day by intragastric administration，respectively.The normal control group and fibrosis model group were given 1% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose（10 mL/kg） as control.Six rats of each group were randomly sacrificed on day 21，28，42 and 56 after bleomycin administration，respectively.The histological changes of the lung were evaluated by HE and Masson’s trichrome staining.Lung expressions of transforming growth factor-β1（TGF-β1） and hydroxyproline were assessed by immuno-histochemistry and digestion method，respectively.Results Pulmonary fibrosis and hydroxyproline level in the curcumin group were significantly reduced as compared with those in the model group on day 42 and 56.The expession of TGF-β1 in the curcumin group was significantly lower than that in the model group on day 28，42 and 56，and was not significantly different from the normal group on day 56.Conclusion Curcumin could alleviate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats at the fibrosing stage by inhibiting the expressions of TGF-β1.
Objective To explore the inhibitory mechanism of Imatinib mesylate on pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin inmice. Methods A total of 120 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups, ie. a control group, a model group, a dexamethasone group, and an Imatinib group. The model of pulmonary fibrosis was established by a single intratracheal instillation of bleomycin in the rats. Then dexamethasone or Imatinib were given intraperitoneally respectively. On day 7, 14, 21 after the treatment, 10 mice of each group were sacrificed respectively. The expressions of TGF-β1 and α-SMA in lung tissue were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression of TGF-β1 was measured by RT-PCR. Results The expressions of TGF-β1 and α-SMA in lung tissue at each time point were significantly increased in the model group compared with the control group. And the expressions were obviously decreased in the dexamethasone group and the Imatinib group compared with the model group, with no significant differences between the two treatment groups. The expression of TGF-β1 was positively correlated with the α-SMA expression ( r= 0. 251, P lt;0. 05) . Conclusion The inhibitory effect of Imatinib on pulmonary fibrosis may be related to the inhibition of TGF-β1 and α-SMA expressions.
Objective To evaluate the effects of N-acetylcysteine ( NAC) on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice and to investigate the therapeutic mechanisms of NAC on lung fibrosis. Methods Forty-five KM female mice were randomly divided into 3 groups. The mice in the control group were administered with saline aerosol intratracheally. The mice in the fibrosis group were administered with bleomycin ( 3 mg/kg) dissolved in normal saline aerosol intratracheally. The mice in the NAC group were gastric perfused with NAC at a dose of 400 mg · kg- 1 · d - 1 after administering bleomycin aerosol intratracheally. All animals were sacrificed 28 days after the treatments. The left lung was fixed in 10% neutral formalin, then stained with hematoxylin eosin and Masson’s trichrome respectively for the pathological examination. The right lung was sampled and the content of hydroxyproline ( HYP) was assayed by alkaline hydrolysis method. The serum was collected and the concentrations of malondialdehyde ( MDA) and totalantioxidant capacity ( T-AOC) were measured by colorimetric method. The RNA and total tissue protein were extracted for the examination of NOX1 /2/4 by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. Results NAC prevented lung fibrosis induced by bleomycin with significantly reducing lung collagen accumulation and the level of HYP in the NAC group ( P lt;0. 05) . The serum concentration of MDA were reduced and serum TAOC raised by treating NAC after intratracheal administration of bleomycin ( P lt;0. 05) . NOX1 /2/4 gene and protein expression were increased in the fibrosis group compared with the control group. NAC had no effect on the gene expression of NOX1/2 /4( P gt;0. 05) , but inhibitted the NOX4 protein expression in lung tissue significantly ( P lt; 0. 05) . Conclusion NAC inhibits the expression of NOX4 and prevents bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice.
Objective To analyze the clinical presentations and radiological characteristics of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ( IPF) . Methods Clinical and radiological data of 2 patients with acute exacerbation of IPF from April 2006 to July 2008 were retrospectively analyzed and literatures were reviewed. Results Both patients were senior male patients over 60 years old. Dyspnea, cough and inspiratory crackles were the major symptoms and signs. Two patients were experiencing an exacerbation of dyspnea for one week and half of month, respectively. PaO2 /FiO2 of both patients was less than225 mm Hg. In both patients, high-resolution computed tomography ( HRCT) scans at the exacerbation showed typical signs of IPF including peripheral predominant, basal predominant reticular abnormality, with honeycombing and traction bronchiectasis and bronchiolectasis, and newly developing alveolar opacity. HRCT scan showed peripheral area of ground-glass attenuation adjacent to subpleural honeycombing in one patient, and diffusely distributed ground-glass opacity in another patient. Two patients had received corticosteroid treatment. For one patient, the symptoms improved, and ground-glass attenuation adjacent to subpleural honeycombing had almostly resolved. The other patient died of respiratory failure. Conclusions Some acute exacerbation in idiopatic pulmonary fibrosis can be idiopathic. The clinical presentations mainly include the worsening of dyspnea within short time. HRCT generally demonstrates new bilateral ground-glass abnormality with or without areas of consolidation, superimposed on typical changes of IPF.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). MethodsWe electronically searched PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2014), CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP databases from the date of establishment to February 2014 for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of NAC in patients with IPF. Manual search in relevant journals were also performed. The data extraction and quality assessment of included RCTs were conducted by two reviewers independently. Then, meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.1 software. ResultsA total of 13 RCTs involving 713 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis indicated that the NAC group was better than the control group in clinical effectiveness (RR=1.34, 95%CI 1.19 to 1.51, P < 0.000 1). After treatment, the lung function was also improved in the NAC group than in the control group in the following index:PaO2 (MD=6.06, 95%CI 3.79 to 8.32, P < 0.000 01), vital capacity (VC) (%) (MD=4.79, 95%CI 0.35 to 9.24, P=0.03) and diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (Dlco) (%) (MD=5.74, 95%CI 2.67 to 8.81, P=0.000 2). However, no significant difference was found between groups in total lung capacity (TLC) (%) (MD=5.56, 95%CI-1.73 to 12.86, P=0.14). No serious or frequently-happened adverse effect was reported in the NAC group. ConclusionThe current evidence suggests that NAC in long term use could improve clinical conditions, PaO2 and lung function of IPF patients, with less adverse effects.