title: Resistance of fibrogenic responses to glucocorticoid and 2-methoxyestradiol in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice.
abstract: Bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice reproduces some key features of pulmonary fibrosis in humans including alveolar inflammation, myofibroblast proliferation, and collagen deposition. Glucocorticoids have been used as first-line therapy for the treatment of lung fibrosis, although their clinical efficacy is equivocal. We examined the effect of the glucocorticoid, methylprednisolone (MP), and the estrogen metabolite, 2-methoxyestradiol (2MEO) on bleomycin-induced bronchoalveolar inflammation, fibrosis, and changes in lung function. The characterization of the time-course of the bleomycin-induced fibrosis indicated that lung dry mass and hydroxyproline content showed less variance than histopathological assessment of fibrosis. The bleomycin-induced increases in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cell number and protein levels were not significantly influenced by treatment with either MP (1 mg.(kg body mass)(-1).day(-1), i.p.) or 2MEO (50 mg.(kg body mass)(-1).day(-1), i.p.). Lung fibrosis, measured histopathologically or by hydroxyproline content, was not significantly influenced by either MP or 2MEO treatment, whereas the latter agent did reduce the increment in lung dry mass. The enlargement of alveolar airspaces and the decline in lung compliance were exacerbated by MP treatment. These data suggest that bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis is resistant to inhibition by concurrent treatment with either glucocorticoids or 2MEO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Shenna Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Langenbach
authors.forename: Ben J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wheaton
authors.forename: Darren J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Tara E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.forename: Bronwyn C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wraith
authors.forename: Trudi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schuliga
authors.forename: Catriona
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: Alastair G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000077584:2-Methoxyestradiol; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000633:toxicity; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008170:Lung Compliance / Q000187:drug effects; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use