Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0034069 (pulmonary fibrosis)
 7,050 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Pirfenidone, a putative tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitor, has recently gained recognition for its therapeutic use in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. As pulmonary fibrosis may be the result of lung inflammatory processes, we examined the anti-inflammatory potential of pirfenidone in several models of acute pulmonary inflammation. In antigen-induced allergic paradigms, 24 h after antigen challenge, sensitized mice or guinea pigs develop a prominent pulmonary inflammation, reflected by a significant increase in the number of recoverable bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) total cells and eosinophils. In both species, the pretreatment of animals with pirfenidone (10 and 30 mg/kg) resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of the antigen-induced pulmonary inflammation, which was reflected by a significant decrease in the BAL eosinophils and total cells by the 30 mg/kg dose. In a non-allergic model of pulmonary inflammation, rats challenged with intratracheal LPS develop a significant increase in BAL neutrophils and total cells, along with significant increases in TNF-alpha and IL-6. Pretreatment with pirfenidone (3 and 30 mg/kg) showed a dose-dependent inhibition of the LPS-induced pulmonary inflammation, reflected by a significant decrease in the number of BAL total and neutrophilic cells at both the 3 and 30 mg/kg dose. However, pirfenidone had no effect on the peak BAL levels of TNF-alpha. In contrast, pirfenidone significantly inhibited BAL levels of IL-6. In summary, we have shown that pirfenidone can inhibit allergic and non-allergic inflammatory cell recruitment and that its pulmonary anti-inflammatory activity is independent of TNF-alpha inhibition.
 ...
PMID:Inhibition of experimental acute pulmonary inflammation by pirfenidone. 1285 Jan 23

Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by the accumulation of excessive connective tissue in the lungs. Its causes include chronic administration of some drugs for example bleomycin, cyclophosphamide, amiodarone, procainamide, penicillamine, gold and nitrofurantoin; exposure to certain environmental factors such as gases, asbestos and silica and bacterial or fungal infections. Some systemic diseases also predispose to the disease for example rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The disease is associated with release of oxygen radicals and some mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha TNF-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta TGF-beta, PDGF, IGF-I, ET-I and interleukins 1, 4, 8 and 13. The symptoms of the disease include dyspnea, non-productive cough, fever and damage to the lung cells. It is diagnosed with the aid of chest radiography, high resolution computed tomographic scanning and the result of pulmonary function tests. Drug-induced pulmonary fibrosis may involve release of free oxygen radicals and various cytokines for example IL-Ibeta and TNF-alpha via activation of nuclear transcription factor NF-beta as in the case of bleomycin and mitomycin or via release of TGF-beta as in case of tamoxifen or via inhibition of macrophages' and lymphocytes' phospholipases as in the case of amiodarone with the resultant accumulation of phospholipids and reduction of the immune system.
 ...
PMID:Drug-induced pulmonary fibrosis. 1519 96

Epidemiological studies have shown strong associations between silica exposure and several autoimmune diseases, including scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus. We previously reported that the New Zealand mixed (NZM) mouse develops silicosis and exacerbated autoimmunity following crystalline silica exposure, including increased levels of autoantibodies, proteinuria, circulating immune complexes, pulmonary fibrosis, and glomerulonephritis. In this study, the NZM mouse was used to examine changes in immune activation following silica exposure by measuring levels of immunoglobulin, cytokines and lymphocyte populations. Levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 were significantly decreased from 1124 +/- 244 microg/ml in saline exposed mice to 614 +/- 204 microg/ml in silica-exposed mice, suggesting a decrease in the Th2 response. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were significantly increased (1.5-fold) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the silica-exposed mice as compared to the saline-exposed mice. The number of B1a B cells were significantly increased sixfold within the superficial cervical lymph nodes of silica-exposed mice as compared with saline-exposed mice. Following silica exposure, CD4+ T cells significantly increased threefold within the superficial cervical lymph nodes. During this increase in the number of CD4+ T cells, the number of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells was not significantly changed, altering the ratio of regulatory T cells to T helper cells from 1:5 to 1:8 following silica exposure. Therefore, the silica-induced alterations in immunoglobulin levels, increased TNF-alpha, increased B1a B cells and CD4+ T cells, with decreased regulatory T cells, may provide an environment that allows for increased autoreactivity. These studies begin to provide possible mechanisms for environmentally induced autoimmune diseases that have been reported in many epidemiological studies.
 ...
PMID:Immunoglobulin and lymphocyte responses following silica exposure in New Zealand mixed mice. 1520 74

Tetrathiomolybdate, an anticopper drug, has been shown to protect mice against pulmonary fibrosis from bleomycin. Our hypothesis is that it does so by inhibiting fibrosis-inducing cytokines. Indeed, we have good evidence, not yet published, that tetrathiomolybdate inhibits pulmonary levels of transforming growth factor-beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression in these bleomycin experiments. Herein, we evaluate tetrathiomolybdate's effectiveness in mitigating hepatitis and fibrosis in mice from the hepatotoxins, concanavalin A and carbon tetrachloride, and its inhibition of cytokines as a possible mechanism. In short-term experiments, concanavalin A elevated serum amino leucine transferase levels several fold, and tetrathiomolybdate completely prevented this increase. In additional experiments, tetrathiomolybdate therapy reversed the elevated serum transaminase levels despite continued concanavalin A injections, with nearly significant serum interleukin-1beta inhibition. Concanavalin A given for 12 weeks produced mild fibrosis, whereas concomitant tetrathiomolybdate treatment resulted in normal histology. Carbon tetrachloride given for 12 weeks resulted in very high serum amino leucine transferase levels, high serum transforming growth factor-beta levels, cirrhosis as seen histologically, and increase in liver hydroxyproline, a measure of fibrosis. Concomitant tetrathiomolybdate partially and significantly protected against increases in amino leucine transferase and transforming growth factor-beta, fully protected against the increase in hydroxyproline, and resulted in normal histology. In conclusion, tetrathiomolybdate protects against the hepatitis and fibrosis produced by these hepatotoxins, probably by inhibiting the excessive increase in inflammatory and fibrotic cytokines.
 ...
PMID:Tetrathiomolybdate therapy protects against concanavalin a and carbon tetrachloride hepatic damage in mice. 1533 42

Increased expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha are thought to play important roles in the development of pulmonary fibrosis. We recently reported that TNF-alpha upregulates TGF-beta(1) expression in primary mouse lung fibroblasts (MLFs), a key cell population in fibrogenesis. In the present study, we have investigated signal transduction pathways involved in TNF-alpha upregulation of TGF-beta(1) in both primary MLFs and the Swiss 3T3 fibroblast cell line. Treatment of fibroblasts with TNF-alpha resulted in a significant increase in TGF-beta(1) protein as measured by ELISA. The increase in protein was preceded by a 200-400% increase in TGF-beta(1) mRNA detected by quantitative, real-time, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Western blot analysis showed that TNF-alpha activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and inhibitors of the ERK-specific mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway (PD98059 or U0126) blocked TNF-alpha induction of TGF-beta(1) mRNA and protein. mRNA stability experiments showed that TNF-alpha increased the half-life of TGF-beta(1) mRNA to more than 24 h compared with approximately 15 h in unstimulated cells. Expression of constitutively active MEK1 that selectively phosphorylates ERK was sufficient for TGF-beta(1) mRNA stabilization in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. These results indicate that TNF-alpha activates the ERK-specific mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway leading to increased TGF-beta(1) production in fibroblasts, primarily via a post-transcriptional mechanism that involves stabilization of the TGF-beta(1) transcript.
 ...
PMID:Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces transforming growth factor-beta1 expression in lung fibroblasts through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway. 1565 32

Lung fibrosis is a common side effect of the chemotherapeutic agent, bleomycin. Current evidence suggests that reactive oxygen species may play a key role in the development of lung fibrosis. The present study examined the effect of mesna on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in rats. Animals were divided into three groups: (1) saline control group; (2) Bleomycin group in which rats were injected with bleomycin (15 mg/kg, i.p.) three times a week for four weeks; (3) Bleomycin and mesna group, in which mesna was given to rats (180 mg/kg/day, i.p.) a week prior to bleomycin and daily during bleomycin injections for 4 weeks until the end of the treatment. Bleomycin treatment resulted in a pronounced fall in the average body weight of animals. Bleomycin-induced pulmonary injury and lung fibrosis was indicated by increased lung hydroxyproline content, and elevated nitric oxide synthase, myeoloperoxidase, platelet activating factor, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in lung tissues. On the other hand, bleomycin induced a reduction in reduced glutathione concentration and angiotensin converting enzyme activity in lung tissues. Moreover, bleomycin-induced severe histological changes in lung tissues revealed as lymphocytes and neutrophils infiltration, increased collagen deposition and fibrosis. Co-administration of bleomycin and mesna reduced bleomycin-induced weight loss and attenuated lung injury as evaluated by the significant reduction in hydroxyproline content, nitric oxide synthase activity, and concentrations of myeoloperoxidase, platelet activating factor, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in lung tissues. Furthermore, mesna ameliorated bleomycin-induced reduction in reduced glutathione concentration and angiotensin activity in lung tissues. Finally, histological evidence supported the ability of mesna to attenuate bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis and consolidation. Thus, the findings of the present study provide evidence that mesna may serve as a novel target for potential therapeutic treatment of lung fibrosis.
 ...
PMID:Attenuation of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in rats by mesna. 1571 30

Surfactant protein A (SP-A) and surfactant protein D (SP-D) are important components of innate immunity that can modify the inflammatory response. However, alterations and regulation of SP-A and SP-D in acute and chronic inflammation are not well defined. In addition, serum SP-D may serve as a biomarker of lung inflammation. We determined the expression of SP-A and SP-D in murine models. To study acute inflammation, we instilled bleomycin intrabronchially. To study chronic lung inflammation, we used a transgenic mouse that overexpresses tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha under the control of the SP-C promoter. These mice have a chronic mononuclear cell infiltration, airspace enlargement, pulmonary hypertension, and focal pulmonary fibrosis. In acute inflammation model, levels of mRNA for all surfactant proteins were reduced after bleomycin administration. However, serum SP-D was increased from days 7 to 28 after instillation. In chronic inflammation model, SP-D mRNA expression was increased, whereas the expression of SP-A, SP-B and SP-C was reduced. Both serum and lung SP-D concentrations were increased in chronic lung inflammation. These data clarified profile of SP-A and SP-D in acute and chronic inflammation and indicated that serum SP-D can serve as a biomarker of lung inflammation in both acute and chronic lung injury in mice.
 ...
PMID:Serum surfactant protein D is increased in acute and chronic inflammation in mice. 1596 75

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive scarring disease of the lung. It has been suggested that fibrosis is an inflammatory process, and cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta have been shown to play key roles in the pathogenesis of fibrotic lung disease. However, the source of these cytokines remains in question and there is controversy over the role that infiltrating inflammatory cells play in fibrosis. T cells could play a key role by releasing cytokines upon engaging autoantigens revealed as a result of necrosis or apoptosis following epithelial injury. Some studies have shown that disrupting T-cell function leads to more severe disease, whereas others have shown that T-cell deficiency protects against fibrotic injury. To investigate whether specific antigen engagement by T cells is required for the development of fibrosis, bleomycin was instilled into the lungs of mice expressing a transgenic T-cell receptor beta (TCRbeta) gene. Expression of the TCRbeta transgene prevents effective recognition of antigens other than a single epitope of hen egg lysozyme. These mice therefore have defective antigen-specific responses but a normal representation of mature T-cell subsets. If antigen-specific T-cell engagement is required for the development of lung fibrosis, bleomycin-induced fibrosis should be reduced in the TCRbeta transgenic mice. In fact, there is no difference in the inflammatory or fibrotic response to bleomycin between TCRbeta transgenic and control mice. Thus, if T cells are required for fibrogenesis, it must involve an antigen-independent mechanism.
 ...
PMID:Sensitivity to bleomycin-induced lung injury is not moderated by an antigen-limited T-cell repertoire. 1620 23

Osteopontin is a multifunctional matricellular protein identified as one of the most upregulated genes in pulmonary fibrosis. Experimental animal models have identified early pro-fibrotic cytokines as essential to the pathogenesis of inflammation-induced pulmonary fibrosis. However, the principal sources of osteopontin in the fibroproliferative lung, and the factors responsible for its induction, have not been fully defined. We isolated primary rat lung fibroblasts in culture to examine the expression and regulation of lung fibroblast-derived osteopontin. Our results demonstrate a potent and dramatic increase in osteopontin expression induced by interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), whereas tumor necrosis factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta, and angiotensin II had minimal effect. Stimulation with IL-1beta resulted in the secretion of soluble osteopontin protein. We found that osteopontin expression by IL-1beta was regulated via signaling primarily through the mitogen-activated protein kinase member ERK1/2, partially by p38 MAPK, but not at all by JNK. Finally, the mechanism of IL-1beta increase in osteopontin mRNA requires de novo transcription and translation. In conclusion, we find that osteopontin is expressed by primary lung fibroblasts and is potently upregulated by the early inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokine IL-1beta. Activated fibroblasts may be a significant source of osteopontin production during lung fibrogenesis.
 ...
PMID:Interleukin-1beta induces osteopontin expression in pulmonary fibroblasts. 1621 80

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a chemokine whose circulating levels have been detected in the lesions of several diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis. However, the factors involved in the regulation of its production remain largely unknown. The main aim of the present paper was to ascertain the contribution of the familial/genetic factors on the production of MCP-1 in apparently healthy individuals. We also tested the possible relationships between the plasma levels of MCP-1 and other cytokines involved in bone metabolism (receptor activator NF-kB ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), interleukin-6, macrophage-colony stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor-alpha). Using ELISA assays the cytokine levels were measured in 570 apparently healthy individuals belonging to ethnically homogeneous Caucasian families. We found that MCP-1 levels were significantly (P<0.01) correlated with RANKL (in both sexes) and with OPG only in women. The study showed that adjusted for potential covariates, 72% of the MCP-1 variance, was attributable to familial effects. About 49% was due to potential genetic factors and the rest was explained by common environmental sources shared by spouses within each family. In conclusion, our data provide reliable evidence for the substantial role of genetic factors in the determination of the phenotypic variability of MCP-1 plasma levels. The association between the osteoclastogenic cytokines and MCP-1 levels in healthy pedigrees is of special interest and might shed light on MCP-1 involvement in bone remodeling.
 ...
PMID:Contribution of the familial and genetic factors on monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 variation in healthy human pedigrees. 1621 55


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>