[Studying the influence of Candesartan cilexetil on the lung fibrosis in rats exposed to silica].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of Candesartan cilexetil on the rats exposed to silica.


METHODS
Ninety-six wistar rats were randomly divided into model-group, intervention-group and control-group (32 rats a group). The intervention-group, model-group and control group were orally exposed to Candesartan cilexetil (10 mg/kg) and normal solution for a week, respectively. Then the model and intervention groups were exposed to silica by intratracheal infusion of silica dust suspension (50 mg/ml), the control group was exposed to 0.5 ml normal solution for 2 days. On the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th days after exposure to silica, 8 rats of each group were sacrificed, respectively. The samples of lung tissues were collected. The lung/body coefficients were detected. The pathological examinations were performed by HE and Masson staining. The levels of ACE in the lung tissues were observed by immunochemistry staining. The levels of TGF-β1 and Ang II in the BALF were examined by ELISA.


RESULTS
On the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th days after exposure, the levels of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis in the intervention group were significantly alleviated as compared with model group, and the lung/body coefficients in the intervention group, which were significantly lower than those in model group respectively (P < 0.01). As compared with control group, the levels of TGF-β1 and Ang II of the BALF in the model and intervention groups significantly enhanced (P < 0.01). As compared with model group, the levels of TGF-β1 and Ang II of the BALF in the intervention group significantly decreased (P < 0.01). As compared with control group, the levels of ACE of the lung tissues in the model and intervention groups significantly increased (P < 0.01). But the level of ACE of the lung tissues in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the model group (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The early Candesartan cilexetil intervention could significantly decrease the levels of alveolitis and lung fibrosis, declined the levels of TGF-β(1) and Ang II of BALF and downregulated the expression level of ACE in lung tissues in rats exposed to silica.
Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong Province 266042, China.
Gang
G
Yin
Wei-Yong
WY
Zhu
Hua
H
Zhang
Yue-Fan
YF
Li
Chun-ling
CL
Zhang
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D013777:Tetrazoles; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000804:Angiotensin II; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; C081643:candesartan