The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of thalidomide (THD) on interstitial lung fibrosis (ILF). In vitro, human fetal lung fibroblast (HFL-F) to myofibroblast (MF) trans-differentiation was induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. The effects of THD on trans-differentiation process or differentiated MF were evaluated by measuring hydroxyproline (HYP) content by alkaline hydrolysis colorimetry, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein by Western blot and α-SMA and pro-collagen III mRNA expressions by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction; in vivo, a mouse model of ILF was generated by daily subcutaneous injection of bleomycin (BLM) in female C3H mice. Gastric perfusion of THD began 1 week prior to injection and lasted for 8 weeks. Lung specimens were harvested at different time-points (1, 4, 6 and 8 weeks) for pathology and immunohistochemistry examination. The HYP content, α-SMA and pro-collagen III mRNA expressions were also assessed. THD inhibited the up-regulation of HYP protein, pro-collagen III mRNA and α-SMA protein induced by TGF-β1 in HFL-F cells, and additionally inhibited pro-collagen III mRNA expression on trans-differentiated MF. THD reduced HYP synthesis in the lung tissues of BLM-treated mice at week 4, and slightly reduced the numbers of α-SMA-positive cells. THD had an effect on ILF models both in vitro and in vivo. © 2009 British Society for Immunology.
CITATION STYLE
Zhao, L., Xiao, K., Wang, H., Wang, Z., Sun, L., Zhang, F., … He, W. (2009). Thalidomide has a therapeutic effect on interstitial lung fibrosis: Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 157(2), 310–315. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2249.2009.03962.x
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