title: Prostaglandin E₂ protects murine lungs from bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and lung dysfunction.
abstract: Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) is a lipid mediator that is produced via the metabolism of arachidonic acid by cyclooxygenase enzymes. In the lung, PGE(2) acts as an anti-inflammatory factor and plays an important role in tissue repair processes. Although several studies have examined the role of PGE(2) in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis in rodents, results have generally been conflicting, and few studies have examined the therapeutic effects of PGE(2) on the accompanying lung dysfunction. In this study, an established model of pulmonary fibrosis was used in which 10-12-wk-old male C57BL/6 mice were administered a single dose (1.0 mg/kg) of bleomycin via oropharyngeal aspiration. To test the role of prostaglandins in this model, mice were dosed, via surgically implanted minipumps, with either vehicle, PGE(2) (1.32 μg/h), or the prostacyclin analog iloprost (0.33 μg/h) beginning 7 days before or 14 days after bleomycin administration. Endpoints assessed at 7 days after bleomycin administration included proinflammatory cytokine levels and measurement of cellular infiltration into the lung. Endpoints assessed at 21 days after bleomycin administration included lung function assessment via invasive (FlexiVent) analysis, cellular infiltration, lung collagen content, and semiquantitative histological analysis of the degree of lung fibrosis (Ashcroft method). Seven days after bleomycin administration, lymphocyte numbers and chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 expression were significantly lower in PGE(2)- and iloprost-treated animals compared with vehicle-treated controls (P < 0.05). When administered 7 days before bleomycin challenge, PGE(2) also protected against the decline in lung static compliance, lung fibrosis, and collagen production that is associated with 3 wk of bleomycin exposure. However, PGE(2) had no therapeutic effect on these parameters when administered 14 days after bleomycin challenge. In summary, PGE(2) prevented the decline in lung static compliance and protected against lung fibrosis when it was administered before bleomycin challenge but had no therapeutic effect when administered after bleomycin challenge.
authors.affiliation: Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Dackor
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Voltz
authors.forename: Jeffrey W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Card
authors.forename: Catherine D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Garrett
authors.forename: J Alyce
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bradbury
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: DeGraff
authors.forename: Fred B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Lih
authors.forename: Kenneth B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Tomer
authors.forename: Gordon P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Flake
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Travlos
authors.forename: Randle W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Ramsey
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Edin
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Darryl C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Zeldin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D016285:Iloprost / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D001761:Bleomycin; D003094:Collagen; D016285:Iloprost; D015232:Dinoprostone