The effect of cyclosporin A on pulmonary fibrosis induced by butylated hydroxytoluene, bleomycin and beryllium sulfate.
Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fibroblasts with a resultant increase in lung collagen content. Previous research has implied a possible involvement of the T-lymphocyte in this process. We used cyclosporin A (Cy A), a known immunosuppressant, to deplete T-lymphocyte-dependent responses in animals following treatment with agents known to produce fibrosis; butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), bleomycin and beryllium (Be). BHT-treated mice and bleomycin-treated rats showed significant reduction in total lung hydroxyproline content with Cy A (P less than 0.05). These results suggest a contribution of the T-lymphocyte in the overall process of fibrosis, but do not indicate its role as the sole causative agent.
L E
LE
Sendelbach
R C
RC
Lindenschmidt
H P
HP
Witschi
D000818:Animals; D001608:Beryllium / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*
D003524:Cyclosporins; C020711:beryllium sulfate; D001761:Bleomycin; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene; D001608:Beryllium; D006909:Hydroxyproline