title: Paraquat increases connective tissue growth factor expression and impairs lung fibroblast proliferation and viscoelasticity.
abstract: This in vitro study was designed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of paraquat-induced damage using cultured human fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5 cells), in order to promote the development of improved therapies for paraquat poisoning. Paraquat's effects on proliferation were examined by flow cytometry, on viscoelasticity by the micropipette aspiration technique, and on connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Paraquat was found to significantly reduce the proliferation index of MRC-5 cells in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.05) and to significantly impair the viscoelastic properties in a time-independent manner (p < 0.05). Exposure to paraquat led to a significant and time-dependent increase in CTGF expression (p < 0.05) and induced changes in the morphology and biomechanical characteristics of the MRC-5 cells. These findings not only provide novel insights into the mechanisms of paraquat-induced lung fibrosis but may represent useful targets of improved molecular-based therapies for paraquat poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, China.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Lianyungang Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical College, China.
authors.forename: Y-P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, China.
authors.forename: X-X
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Jilin Traditional Chinese Medical College, China.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, China yangzhouxux@sina.com.
authors.forename: X-L
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy and Biological Science College, Weifang Medical University, China.
authors.forename: G-H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D004548:Elasticity; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology; D010269:Paraquat / Q000633:toxicity*; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: C526317:CCN2 protein, human; D006540:Herbicides; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D010269:Paraquat
keywords: Lung fibroblast; connective tissue growth factor; paraquat; proliferation; viscoelasticity