Shri N. Giri

Effect of antibody to transforming growth factor beta on bleomycin induced accumulation of lung collagen in mice.

BACKGROUND--Increased production of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) seems to have an important role in the pathophysiology of bleomycin induced lung fibrosis. This is attributed to the ability of TGF-beta to stimulate infiltration of inflammatory cells and promote synthesis of connective tissue, leading to collagen deposition. METHODS--The study was designed to evaluate the antifibrotic potential of TGF-beta antibody in mice treated with bleomycin, which is a model of lung fibrosis. Under methoxyflurane anaesthesia, each mouse received intratracheally either 50 microliters sterile isotonic saline or 0.125 units bleomycin in 50 microliters. Within five minutes after the instillation, mice received into the tail vein 100 microliters non-immune rabbit IgG, TGF-beta 2 antibody, or a combination of TGF-beta 2 and TGF-beta 1 antibodies at various dose regimens. Mice were killed 14 days after the instillation and their lungs processed for morphological and biochemical studies. RESULTS--Administration of 250 micrograms of TGF-beta 2 antibody after instillation of bleomycin followed by 100 micrograms on day 5 and 100 micrograms on day 9 significantly reduced the bleomycin induced increases in the accumulation of lung collagen from 445.8 (42.3) micrograms/lung to 336.7 (56.6) micrograms/lung at 14 days. Similarly, the combined treatment with 250 micrograms TGF-beta 2 antibody and 250 micrograms TGF-beta 1 antibody after bleomycin instillation followed by 100 micrograms of each antibody on day 5 also caused a significant reduction in bleomycin induced increases in lung collagen accumulation and myeloperoxidase activity at 14 days. CONCLUSIONS--These results suggest that TGF-beta has an important role in the aetiology of bleomycin induced lung fibrosis; the neutralisation of TGF-beta by systemic treatment with its antibodies offers a new mode of pharmacological intervention which may be useful in treating lung fibrosis.

Molecular mechanisms of antifibrotic effect of interferon gamma in bleomycin-mouse model of lung fibrosis: downregulation of TGF-beta and procollagen I and III gene expression.

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanism for the antifibrotic effect of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in the bleomycin (BL)-mouse model of lung fibrosis. The expression of transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) and procollagen I and III and their mRNAs was investigated in the BL-mouse model of lung fibrosis with and without IFN-gamma treatment by Northern and slot blot analyses. Temporal changes in the content of procollagen and TGF-beta mRNAs in the lungs of mice receiving saline or BL by intratracheal route, with and without IFN-gamma treatment by intramuscular route, were quantitated. The level of TGF-beta mRNA increased rapidly and peaked at day 5, whereas the levels of mRNAs for procollagens alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) peaked at 10 days after BL instillation. The peak levels of these mRNAs in BL-treated animals were five- to sevenfold higher than those of the control. The increase in TGF-beta mRNA in the lungs of BL-treated mice preceded the increase in the synthesis of type I and type III procollagen mRNAs. BL treatment also increased the hydroxyproline content significantly from 3 to 14 days as compared to the corresponding saline control groups. A maximal increase to 447 micrograms/lung from 223 micrograms/lung in saline control was obtained at 10 days after instillation. Daily treatment with IFN-gamma markedly reduced the BL-induced increases in the mRNA levels of TGF-beta, and procollagen alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) without any effect on the lung level of beta-actin mRNA. IFN-gamma treatment also caused significant reduction in the BL-induced increase in the lung hydroxyproline content from 417 to 283 micrograms/lung at 7 days and from 447 to 264 micrograms/lung at 10 days. It may be concluded from the findings of the present study that the cellular mechanisms for the antifibrotic effect of IFN-gamma in the BL-mouse model of lung fibrosis are to initially downregulate the BL-induced overexpression of TGF-beta mRNA, and subsequently procollagen mRNAs, leading to a decreased collagen content.

Reduction of bleomycin induced lung fibrosis by transforming growth factor β soluble receptor in hamsters

BACKGROUND Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a key mediator of collagen synthesis in the development of lung fibrosis. It has previously been shown that the administration of TGF-β antibody and TGF-β binding proteoglycan, decorin, reduced bleomycin (BL) induced lung fibrosis in animals. The present study was carried out to investigate whether intratracheal instillation of TGF-β soluble receptor (TR) would minimise the BL induced lung fibrosis in hamsters. METHODS The effect of a recombinant TR (TGFβRII) on the lung collagen accumulation was evaluated in a BL hamster model of pulmonary fibrosis. Animals were divided into four groups and intratracheally injected with saline or BL at 6.5 U/4 ml/kg followed by intratracheal instillation of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or 4 nmol TR in 0.3 ml twice a week. Twenty days after the first intratracheal instillation the hamsters were killed for bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, biochemical, and histopathological analyses. RESULTS Treatment of hamsters with TR after intratracheal instillation of BL significantly reduced BL induced lung fibrosis as shown by decreases in the lung hydroxyproline level and prolyl hydroxylase activity, although they were still significantly higher than those of the saline control. Histopathological examination showed a considerable decrease in BL induced fibrotic lesions by TR treatment. However, TR did not prevent the BL induced increases in total cells and protein in the BAL fluid. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that TR has antifibrotic potential in vivo and may be useful in the treatment of fibrotic diseases where increased TGF-β is associated with excess collagen accumulation.

Antifibrotic effect of decorin in a bleomycin hamster model of lung fibrosis

We reported previously that treatment with antibody to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) caused a marked attenuation of bleomycin (BL)-induced lung fibrosis (LF) in mice. Decorin (DC), a proteoglycan, binds TGF-beta and thereby down-regulates all of its biological activities. In the present study, we evaluated the antifibrotic potential of DC in a three-dose BL-hamster model of lung fibrosis. Hamsters were placed in the following groups: (1) saline (SA) + phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (SA + PBS); (2) SA + DC; (3) BL + PBS; and (4) BL + DC. Under pentobarbital anesthesia, SA (4 mL/kg) or BL was instilled intratracheally in three consecutive doses (2.5, 2.0, 1.5 units/kg/4 mL) at weekly intervals. DC (1 mg/mL) or PBS was instilled intratracheally in 0.4 mL/hamster on days 3 and 5 following instillation of each dose of SA or BL. In week 4, hamsters received three doses of either DC or PBS every other day. The hamsters were killed at 30 days following the first instillation, and their lungs were appropriately processed. Lung hydroxyproline levels in SA + PBS, SA + DC, BL + PBS, and BL + DC groups were 965, 829, 1854, and 1387 microg/lung, respectively. Prolyl hydroxylase activities were 103, 289, and 193% of SA + PBS control in SA + DC, BL + PBS, and BL + DC groups, respectively. The myeloperoxidase activities in the corresponding groups were 222, 890, and 274% of control (0.525 units/lung). Intratracheal instillation of BL caused significant increases in these biochemical markers, and instillation of DC diminished these increases in the BL + DC group. DC treatment also caused a significant reduction in the infiltration of neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of hamsters in the BL + DC group. However, DC treatment had little effect on BL-induced increases in lung superoxide dismutase activity and lipid peroxidation and leakage of plasma proteins in the BALF of the BL + DC group. Hamsters in the BL + PBS group showed severe multifocal fibrosis and accumulation of mononuclear inflammatory cells and granulocytes. In contrast, hamsters in the BL + DC group showed mild multifocal septal thickening with aggregations of mononuclear inflammatory cells. Hamsters in both control groups (SA + PBS and SA + DC) showed normal lung structure. Frozen lung sections following immunohistochemical staining revealed an intense staining for EDA-fibronectin and collagen type I in the BL + PBS group as compared with all other groups. It was concluded that DC potentially offers a novel pharmacological intervention that may be useful in treating pulmonary fibrosis.

Pirfenidone inhibits PDGF isoforms in bleomycin hamster model of lung fibrosis at the translational level.

Pirfenidone (PD) is known for its antifibrotic effects in the bleomycin (BL) hamster model of lung fibrosis. We evaluated whether pretreatment of hamsters with PD could influence the effects of BL-induced overexpression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A and PDGF-B genes and proteins in the same model of lung fibrosis. We demonstrate elevated levels of PDGF-A and PDGF-B mRNAs in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells from lungs of BL-treated compared with saline control hamsters by RT-PCR analysis. However, these levels were not altered in BAL cells obtained from BL-treated hamsters on diets containing 0.5% PD. Western blot analysis of BAL fluid for PDGF isoforms demonstrated that PD treatment inhibited the synthesis of both PDGF-A and PDGF-B isoforms. PD treatment also decreased the mitogenic activity in the BAL fluid from BL-treated hamster lungs. Taken together, these data provide evidence that the protective effects of PD against BL-induced lung fibrosis may be mediated by a reduction in PDGF isoforms produced by lung macrophages.Pirfenidone (PD) is known for its antifibrotic effects in the bleomycin (BL) hamster model of lung fibrosis. We evaluated whether pretreatment of hamsters with PD could influence the effects of BL-induced overexpression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A and PDGF-B genes and proteins in the same model of lung fibrosis. We demonstrate elevated levels of PDGF-A and PDGF-B mRNAs in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells from lungs of BL-treated compared with saline control hamsters by RT-PCR analysis. However, these levels were not altered in BAL cells obtained from BL-treated hamsters on diets containing 0.5% PD. Western blot analysis of BAL fluid for PDGF isoforms demonstrated that PD treatment inhibited the synthesis of both PDGF-A and PDGF-B isoforms. PD treatment also decreased the mitogenic activity in the BAL fluid from BL-treated hamster lungs. Taken together, these data provide evidence that the protective effects of PD against BL-induced lung fibrosis may be mediated by a reduction in PDGF isoforms produced by lung macrophages.

Lung Fibrosis is Ameliorated by Pirfenidone Fed in Diet After the Second Dose In A Three-Dose Bleomycin-Hamster Model

Interstitial lung fibrosis (ILF) is a life-threatening disease which has no known drug for prevention and cure. In the present study, we evaluated the antifibrotic potential of pirfenidone (PD) (5-methyl-1-phenyl-2-(1H)-pyridone) in a three-dose bleomycin (BL)-hamster model of lung fibrosis. Hamsters were intratracheally (IT) instilled with three consecutive doses of bleomycin sulfate (2.5 U/kg/5mL, 2.0 U/kg/5mL, 1.5 U/kg/3.75 mL) or an equivalent volume of saline at weekly intervals. Hamsters were fed a diet after the second dose of BL containing 0.5% PD and hamsters in the control groups were fed the same diet without the drug. The four groups were saline-instilled fed control diet (SCD); saline-instilled fed the same diet containing PD (SPD); BL-instilled fed control diet (BCD); and BL-instilled fed the diet containing PD (BPD). Hamsters were sacrificed at 28 days after IT instillation of last dose of saline or BL and their lungs processed for various assays. Lung hydroxyproline, an index of fibrosis, in SCD, SPD, BCD and BPD were 830, 804, 1609, 1235 micrograms/lung, respectively. Lung prolyl hydroxylase activities in the SPD, BCD and BPD groups were 103%, 313%, 157% of the control SCD group (5.99 x 10(4) dpm/lung/30 min) respectively. Malondialdehyde equivalent levels and superoxide dismutase activity in the corresponding groups were 99, 79, 240 and 145 nmoles/lung and 412, 433, 538 and 410 units/lung respectively. Lung myeloperoxidase activities in the corresponding groups were 56%, 179%, and 116% of the control group (0.44 units/lung). It is concluded that PD is a novel antifibrotic drug that has therapeutic potential in arresting the progression of an ongoing fibrotic process in the lung.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Pirfenidone in the Bleomycin-Hamster Model of Lung Inflammation

We have previously reported the antifibrotic effects of pirfenidone (PD) in the bleomycin (BL)-hamster model of lung fibrosis. Since the development of fibrosis is generally preceded by acute lung inflammation, the present study was conducted to find out if dietary intake of PD (0.5%) has any effects on BL-induced lung inflammation. In this regard, we evaluated the effects of PD on BL-induced increased pulmonary vascular permeability, increased influx of inflammatory cells and increased levels of TGF-β in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Hamsters were intratracheally (IT) instilled with saline (SA) or BL (5.5 units/kg/5 ml). The animals were fed the control diet (CD) or the same diet containing 0.5% PD 2 days prior to IT instillation and throughout the study. The bronchoalveolar lavage was carried out at different times after IT instillation. Lavage fluid was used for total and differential cell counts and BALF-supernatant for measurement of total protein and TGF-β. IT instillation of BL caused significant increases in total cells, neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes and in the levels of total protein and TGF-β in BALF from hamsters in the BL + CD groups as compared to the corresponding SA + CD control groups. In contrast, treatment with pirfenidone in general, suppressed the BL-induced increases in the levels of proteins and TGF-β and in the influx of neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes in BALF at the early time points in BL + PD groups. Based on the data reported in this study, we conclude that the anti-inflammatory effects of pirfenidone as evident by suppressions of BL-induced increased pulmonary vascular permeability and increased influx of inflammatory cells in the lung contribute additionally to its inherent anti-fibrotic effect.

Effect of murine gamma interferon on the cellular responses to bleomycin in mice.

Because in vitro studies have shown inhibition of fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis by interferon, we tested the hypothesis that murine gamma interferon inhibits bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Mice were divided into the following groups: saline plus vehicle (27), saline plus interferon (29), bleomycin plus vehicle (26), and bleomycin plus interferon (26). Bleomycin or saline were given intratracheally once at the beginning of the experiment and vehicle (phosphate-buffered saline) or interferon was given intramuscularly daily. Mice were killed at 14 or 21 days of the experiment. About half of the mice from each group were used for collagen biochemistry and half for bronchoalveolar lung lavage, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and morphometry. Hydroxyproline content showed a significant reduction in bleomycin plus interferon compared to bleomycin plus vehicle mice at 21 days. The saline plus vehicle and saline plus interferon mice showed no difference in hydroxyproline content. Similarly, bronchoalveolar lavage showed no differences between saline plus vehicle and saline plus interferon mice; however, all mice treated with bleomycin showed significant increases in total cells as compared to saline treated mice. At 14 and 21 days in bronchoalveolar lavage there were significantly more lymphocytes in bleomycin plus interferon compared to bleomycin plus vehicle mice. In bronchoalveolar lavage, there were usually fewer neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages in bleomycin plus interferon compared to bleomycin plus vehicle mice. Morphometric estimates of the volume of lesion within lung showed no significant differences among the bleomycin treated groups. Stainable collagen fibers were less, but not significantly, in the bleomycin plus interferon compared to bleomycin plus vehicle mice. The number of fibroblasts per volume of lesion was significantly decreased at 14 and 21 days in bleomycin plus interferon compared to bleomycin plus vehicle mice. The total volume of lymphocytes in interstitial lesions was significantly greater at 14 and 21 days in bleomycin plus interferon mice compared to bleomycin plus vehicle mice. These results suggest an inhibitory action of gamma interferon on collagen accumulation and fibroblast proliferation associated with lymphocyte accumulation in the lungs of mice following bleomycin administration.

Ameliorating effect of murine interferon gamma on bleomycin-induced lung collagen fibrosis in mice

Abstract Fibrotic lung diseases are characterized by accumulation of collagen in the lung (1). These diseases generally respond poorly to drug therapy (1). A variety of chemicals have been tested in different experimental models of lung fibrosis to ameliorate or prevent the development of fibrosis (2–4). In this regard, intratracheal instillation of bleomycin, an antineoplastic drug, is often employed to produce experimental models of lung fibrosis in hamsters (5,6), rats (7,8), and mice (9). Using the bleomycin model of lung fibrosis, we and others have tested the ability of various compounds to prevent lung fibrosis (5,7, 10,11). It is unfortunate that these compounds were not satisfactory, since they produced systemic toxicity and lacked specificity in inhibiting collagen biosynthesis. Regulation of collagen metabolism is not completely understood. However, it is generally believed that the immune system and inflammatory conditions affect the metabolic functions of the fibroblasts responsible for collagen synthesis and deposition (12). Recently Rosenbloom et al. (13) have demonstrated that interferon gamma had a potent inhibitory effect on collagen synthesis by cultured human diploid fibrolasts. The inhibitory effect was attributed to a reduction in the levels of collagen mRNA. In the present paper we report that the administration of recombinant murine interferon gamma (IFN-γ) caused a significant reduction in the accumulation of collagen in the lungs of bleomycin-treated mice.

Amelioration of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in hamsters by combined treatment with taurine and niacin☆

Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin (BL) involves the production of reactive oxygen species and the impairment of repair of damaged epithelial cells. We have shown previously that taurine or niacin treatment partially attenuates BL-induced lung fibrosis in hamsters and that the two agents probably act through different mechanisms. In the present investigation, we have demonstrated that taurine and niacin in combination provide nearly complete protection against BL-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Based on the findings of this investigation, it is suggested that combined treatment with taurine and niacin offers the potential for a novel pharmacological approach in the prevention of lung fibrosis in humans.