title: [N-acetylcysteine (NAC) inhibited pulmonary fibrosis in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of NAC treatment on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HELF), in regard to oxidant injury and changes in indexes related to pulmonary fibrosis in ARDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four groups of cultured HELF were treated with: vehicle, LPS(1 pg/ml), NAC (1 mmol/L)+LPS (1 pg/ml) and dexamethasone (DEX, 1 pmol/L)+LPS (1 pg/ml) for 24 hours. The content of collagen and the γ-glutamylcysteinylglycine (GSH) in the cells were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As compared to the control group, the collagen content (pg/mg: 78.97+1.79 vs. 72.90+1.70)and GSH content (pg/mg: 23. 27 0. 92 vs. 26. 34+ 0. 83) in LPS group were significantly (P<0. 05) higher and lower, respectively; NAC and DEX both suppressed the effect of LPS on collagen content (72. 23 ± 1.35, 73.64 1.89 vs. 78.97 + 1.79); and GSH content (26.52 0.62, 25.85 ± 0.60 vs. 23.27+ 0.92)significantly (P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01) in the treated cells. No significant difference was found between NAC+LPS and DEX+LPS group, either in the content of collagen or GSH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NAC can inhibit oxidant injury and pulmonary fibrosis in ARDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.forename: Jian-feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiang-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C050159:gamma-glutamyl-glutathione; D003094:Collagen; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine