盐皮质激素受体在博来霉素诱导的实验性肺纤维化中的作用*

 目的：研究盐皮质激素受体（MR）在博来霉素诱导的实验性肺纤维化进展过程中的作用及机制。方法：将126只6～8周龄雄性C57BL/6小鼠随机分为对照组、博来霉素组和MR阻断剂螺内酯干预组,气管内一次性滴注博来霉素(2.5 mg/kg)溶液建立实验性小鼠肺纤维化模型,螺内酯干预组每天按螺内酯20 mg/kg经灌胃给药。于术后12 h、1 d、2 d、3 d、7 d、14 d和28 d处死小鼠,采用HE染色和Masson染色观察肺组织病理学变化及纤维化程度,采用real-time PCR检测各组肺组织中胶原1(Col1)、Col3、转化生长因子β(TGF-β)、单核细胞趋化蛋白1（MCP-1）及MR mRNA的表达水平。结果：（1）与对照组小鼠相比,博来霉素组及螺内酯干预组小鼠在滴注博来霉素后经历了典型的急性炎症期（12 h～3 d）、纤维化进展期（14 d）和纤维化晚期（28 d）。阻断MR下调早期炎症反应并减轻了纤维化程度。（2）螺内酯干预可以有效降低MR mRNA表达水平;阻断MR在急性炎症期显著下调MCP-1 mRNA的表达,在14 d显著下调TGF-β、Col1和Col3 mRNA表达水平。结论：(1）阻断MR可以明显减轻博来霉素诱导的肺纤维化程度;(2）阻断MR可能通过在急性炎症期调节MCP-1和TGF-β的表达,减轻炎症反应,并在纤维化进展期,下调TGF-β的表达,从而抑制肺纤维化的进展。

Role of mineralocorticoid receptor in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

AIM:To investigate the role of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in the lungs of experimental fibrotic mice. METHODS:C57BL/6 male mice (6～8 weeks old) were randomly divided into control group, bleomycin treatment group (Bleo) and bleomycin+spironolactone treatment group (Bleo+Spiro). For induction of pulmonary fibrosis, the mice were administered bleomycin at dose of 2.5 mg/kg dissolved in 50 μL saline by the intratracheal route or given 50 μL sterile saline as control. The mice in Bleo+Spiro group were treated with spironolactone (20 mg/kg) daily by oral gavage throughout the experiment. The mice were sacrificed at 12 h, 1 d, 2 d, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d and 28 d after administration of bleomycin. HE staining and Masson’s trichrome staining were used to conduct histopathologic examination. The mRNA expression levels of collagen 1 (Col1), collagen 3 (Col3), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and MR were examined by real-time PCR. RESULTS:The results of histological analysis revealed the classical pathological stages of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, including acute inflammation phase (from 12 h to 3 d), progressive fibrosis phase (14 d) and late fibrosis phase (28 d). Compared with Bleo group, the inflammatory responses of the lungs in Bleo+Spiro group were attenuated in the acute inflammation phase and the degree of fibrosis was significantly reduced at 14 d after administration of bleomycin. Treatment with spironolactone effectively down-regulated the mRNA expression of MR. The levels of MCP-1 (in the acute inflammation phase), TGF-β (at 14 d), Col1 and Col3 (at 14 d) were also significantly reduced. CONCLUSION: Blockage of MR significantly attenuates the degree of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by regulating the production and secretion of MCP-1 and TGF-β, thus reducing the degree of inflammation and inhibiting the expression of TGF-β in the progressive fibrotic phase.