Induction of apoptosis and pulmonary fibrosis in mice in response to ligation of Fas antigen.
Fas antigen is a cell surface protein that mediates apoptosis, and it is expressed in various cells and tissues. Fas ligand binds to its receptor Fas, thus inducing apoptosis of Fas-bearing cells. Malfunction of the Fas-Fas ligand system causes lymphoproliferative disorders and autoimmune diseases, whereas its exacerbation may cause tissue destruction. We hypothesize that excessive apoptosis mediated by Fas-Fas ligand interaction may damage alveolar epithelial cells and result in pulmonary fibrosis. Mice were allowed to inhale repeatedly an aerosolized anti-Fas antibody for 14 days. The nuclei of bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells were positively stained by in situ DNA nick end labeling. Electron microscopy demonstrated apoptotic changes in bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells. Histologic findings and hydroxyproline content showed the development of pulmonary fibrosis, which was dependent on the dose of anti-Fas antibody. The repeated inhalation of control antibody (isotype-matched control hamster IgG) did not induce apoptosis of epithelial cells or pulmonary fibrosis. The expression of TGF-beta mRNA was upregulated from day 7 to day 28 in lung tissues of anti-Fas antibody-treated mice but not in those of control mice. In this report, we present the evidence that repeated inhalation of anti-Fas antibody mimicking Fas-Fas ligand crosslinking induces excessive apoptosis and inflammation, which results in pulmonary fibrosis in mice.
Hagimoto
N
N
Faculty of Medicine, Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Kyushu University, Higashiku, Fukuoka, Japan. hagimoto@j-pal.or.jp
Kuwano
K
K
Miyazaki
H
H
Kunitake
R
R
Fujita
M
M
Kawasaki
M
M
Kaneko
Y
Y
Hara
N
N
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001710:Biotin; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D003856:Deoxyuracil Nucleotides; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000032:analysis; D008024:Ligands; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000906:Antibodies; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003856:Deoxyuracil Nucleotides; D008024:Ligands; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019014:fas Receptor; D001710:Biotin; D006909:Hydroxyproline