[Role of connective tissue growth factor on pulmonary artery remodeling in rats exposed to smoke].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the role of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) on pulmonary artery remodeling induced by smoke exposure in rats.


METHODS
Thirty-five male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into a control group (A group), a smoke exposure one month group (B group), a smoke exposure and high dose CTGF antisense oligonucleotide (ASON) one month group (C group), a smoke exposure and low dose CTGF ASON one month group (D group), a smoke exposure two month group (E group), a smoke exposure and high dose CTGF ASON two month group (F group), and a smoke exposure and low dose CTGF ASON two month group (G group). Pulmonary artery remodeling was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the CTGF mRNA expressions of pulmonary arteries were evaluated by RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry methods were performed to determine CTGF protein expression in pulmonary artery smooth muscle. The difference between the groups was analyzed.


RESULTS
(1) The pulmonary artery WA% of the seven groups were respectively (28.6 +/- 1.2)%, (42.5 +/- 2.3)%, (33.7 +/- 1.8)%, (42.1 +/- 2.4)%, (49.6 +/- 2.1)%, (34.3 +/- 1.9)% and (38.4 +/- 2.0)%. There was significant difference between B group and C group (q = 5.09, P < 0.01). Compared to E group, there were significant decreases in F group and G group (q = 8.15, 3.75, all P < 0.05). (2) The CTGF protein expressions (A value) of pulmonary artery smooth muscle were respectively 0.098 +/- 0.015, 0.159 +/- 0.023, 0.118 +/- 0.017, 0.153 +/- 0.022, 0.406 +/- 0.036, 0.109 +/- 0.012 and 0.146 +/- 0.024. There was significant difference between B group and C group (q = 3.26, P < 0.05). Compared to E group, there were significant decreases in F group and G group (q = 67.08, 18.09, all P < 0.01). (3) The CTGF mRNA expressions (A(CTGF)/A(beta-actin)) of pulmonary artery were respectively 0.051 +/- 0.010, 0.823 +/- 0.096, 0.216 +/- 0.056, 0.810 +/- 0.085, 2.452 +/- 0.267, 0.207 +/- 0.062 and 0.509 +/- 0.067. There was significant difference between B group and C group (q = 53.50, P < 0.01). Compared to E group, there were significant decreases in F group and G group (q = 132.22, 93.70, all P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of CTGF ASON in vivo could significantly reduce pulmonary artery remodeling induced by smoke exposure in rats, indicating that CTGF may play an important role in pulmonary hypertension.
Tian
Feng
F
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Xu
Yong-Jian
YJ
Zhang
Zhen-Xiang
ZX
Fan
Xin-Lei
XL
Hu
Jing
J
D000818:Animals; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012906:Smoke; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000737:chemistry
D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012906:Smoke; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor