title: MELATONIN ALLEVIATES BLEOMYCIN-INDUCED PULMONARY FIBROSIS IN MICE.
abstract: Pulmonary fibrosis occurs as a common end-stage sequela of a number of acute and chronic lung diseases. Eicosanoids exert crucial roles in inflammatory processes pertinent to fibrogenesis induction, however, the role of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is not fully elucidated in most pulmonary fibrosis related-disorders. Recently, melatonin (MLN) has been introduced as an effective immuno-modulator and anti-oxidant agent. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of MLN on COX-2 expression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Animals were divided into five groups, including: 1) saline control, 2) 1% ethanol control, 3) MLN control, 4) bleomycin (BLM), in which mice were injected with BLM (15 mg/kg, i.p.) two times per week for four weeks, and 5) BLM+MLN, in which MLN was given to mice (10 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 minutes prior to BLM injections for four weeks. MLN administration significantly reduced body weight loss (P<0.05), the rate of mortality, edema formation, lung injury, COX-2 expression (P>0.05), interstitial tissue percentage volume (P<0.05), and also increased the alveolar space percentage volume. MLN attenuated the BLM-induced lung injury responses such as collagen accumulation and airway dysfunction in mice. Finally, histological evidence supported the ability of MLN to inhibit COX-2 expression. Thus, it may serve as a novel potential therapeutic agent for IPF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Karimfar
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rostami
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haghani
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bakhtiyari
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noori-Zadeh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000633:toxicity*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D008168:Lung / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000517:prevention & control; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D001761:Bleomycin; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D008550:Melatonin