title: Resistance of TNF/LT alpha double deficient mice to bleomycin-induced fibrosis.
abstract: In order to evaluate the role and mode of action of TNF in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, mice deficient for TNF and LT alpha (delta TNF/LT alpha) were examined at 2 months of age and after 3 weekly i.v. injections of bleomycin. The body weight of the delta TNF/LT alpha mice was 88 +/- 11% of that of the wild type littermates. Lung collagen, evaluated by its hydroxyproline content, was also lower (81 +/- 9%) in mutant than in wild type littermates. Bleomycin induced a diffuse alveolitis with focal areas of alveolar remodelling in wild type but not in delta TNF/LT alpha, mice. Lymphoid infiltration was also prominent in wild type, but absent from delta TNF/LT alpha, mice. Bleomycin injections increased collagen deposition, as evaluated by the lung hydroxyproline content, more markedly in wild type, than in delta TNF/LT alpha, mice. Cell trapping in the alveolar capillaries was evaluated by semi-quantitative electron microscopy. Bleomycin markedly increased platelet trapping in the alveolar capillaries of wild type, but not of delta TNF/LT alpha, mice. This study indicates that the expression of TNF/LT alpha genes increases the deposition of collagen in both untreated and inflamed lung and that these genes may act, at least in part, by promoting platelet trapping.
authors.affiliation: Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, Ca 91320, USA.
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Piguet
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barazzone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ryffel
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Eugster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001761:Bleomycin; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002196:Capillaries / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000098:blood supply; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001761:Bleomycin; D003094:Collagen