Air Pollutants, Occupational ; adverse effects ; Dust ; Humans ; Lung ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Welding

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of safflower injection on prevention and treatment of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and clarify the function of the endoplasmic reticulum stress apoptosis pathway during the process.

METHODSThirty male SD rats were randomly grouped as normal control group, hypoxia-hypercapnia group and hypoxia+safflower group. The latter two groups were put in the cabin with oxygen concentration ranged from 9% to 11% and carbon dioxide concentration from 5% to 6%. The pulmonary artery pressure and the index of right ventricular hypertrophy were determined after hypoxia exposure (8 h/dx28 d). Changes in morphology of lung tissue were observed by electron microscopy. To explore the possible mechanisms, we also detected apoptosis and apoptosis-related genes/proteins in lung tissue by TUNEL reactivity and PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, pulmonary artery pressure and the index of right ventricular hypertrophy in hypoxia group were 45% and 33.4% higher, respectively. Tiny blood vessel wall of lungs was thickened and edema, and proliferation of collagen fibers was obvious under the electron microscope. TUNEL staining of apoptotic cells in lung tissues showed more high brightness green fluorescence (+-++), but less green fluorescence showed in the pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cell layer, and apoptosis index (AI) value was 150% higher; gene and protein expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway were increased. Compared with hypoxia-hypercapnia group, pulmonary artery pressure and the index of right ventricular hypertrophy in the hypoxia+safflower group were 18% and 15.6% lower, respectively; collagen fibers were decreased, and smooth muscle cells and epithelial cells were got apoptotic-like changes under the electron microscope. TUNEL staining of apoptotic cells in lung tissues showed brighter green fluorescence (++-+++); the high brightness green fluorescence showed in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cell layer, and apoptotic index (Al) value was 40% higher; gene and protein expressions of endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway were significantly upregulated.

CONCLUSIONOur findings demonstrate that safflower injection could activate endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis and especially promote apoptosis in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; drug effects ; Hypercapnia ; physiopathology ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Lung ; cytology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of alltrans retinoic acid (ATRA) on airway responsiveness, airway remodeling and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) protein in rats with asthma.

METHODSForty rats were randomly divided into five groups: asthma model, normal saline (control), ATRA treatment, cotton oil treatment and budesonide treatment (n=8 each). Asthma was induced by ovalbumin sensitization and challenge in the asthma model, and the ATRA, cotton oil or budesonide treatment groups. ATRA (50 μg/kg), cotton oil (1 mL) or budesonide (0.32 mg/kg) was administered before ovalbumin challenge in the three treatment groups. Airway responsiveness was assessed. The lung tissues were sampled to detect airway remodeling and the expression of MMP-9 protein by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe expression of MMP-9 in lung tissues in the ATRA treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group, but the airway responsiveness in the ATRA treatment group was not significantly different from that in the control group. The airway responsiveness and the expression of MMP-9 in lung tissues were significantly reduced in the ATRA treatment group compared with the asthma model group. The airway remodeling was significantly improved in the ATRA treatment group compared with the asthma model group.

CONCLUSIONSATRA may alleviate airway hyperresponsiveness and airway remodeling possibly through decreasing the protein expression of MMP-9 in rats with asthma.

Airway Remodeling ; drug effects ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Bronchi ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Lung ; enzymology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of tetrandrine (Tet) pulmonary targeting microspheres on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and evaluate its selective action on pulmonary circulation.

METHODSTwenty rats were exposed to hypoxic conditions for 3 weeks. Ten rats were used as normoxic controls. We administered Tet pulmonary targeting microspheres to 10 hypoxic rats and Tet aqueous solution to 10 hypoxic rats and the 10 control rats. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) was measured by a right cardiac catheterization, and mean systemic blood pressure (mSBP) was measured by left femoral catheterization.

RESULTSRats exposed to hypoxia developed pulmonary hypertension. The decrease in mPAP in rats treated with Tet pulmonary targeting microspheres was significantly greater than that in rats receiving Tet aqueous solution (P < 0.05), and the effects were longer with Tet pulmonary targeting microspheres. Moreover, Tet pulmonary targeting microspheres, unlike Tet aqueous solution, did not decrease mSBP.

CONCLUSIONTet pulmonary targeting microspheres were more effective than Tet aqueous solution treating hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and acted selectively on the pulmonary circulation.

Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Benzylisoquinolines ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Lung ; drug effects ; Male ; Microspheres ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVEPulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication of congenital heart defects with a left-to-right shunt characterized by high pulmonary blood flow. Pulmonary vascular structural remodeling (PVSR) is the pathological basis of PH. However, the pathophysiologic features and mechanisms responsible for PH and PVSR induced by increased pulmonary blood flow have not been fully understood. The present study was designed to explore the possible effect and mechanism of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) on the regulation of PVSR induced by high pulmonary flow in rats.

METHODSThirty-two male SD rats, weighing 120 - 140 g, were randomly divided into shunt group (n = 8), shunt + NaHS group (n = 8), control group (n = 8) and control + NaHS group (n = 8). Rats in shunt group and shunt + NaHS group were subjected to an abdominal aorta-inferior vena cava shunt to create an animal model of high pulmonary flow. Rats in the control and control + NaHS groups underwent the same experimental protocol as mentioned above except for the shunt procedure. Rats in the shunt + NaHS and control + NaHS groups were intraperitoneally injected with NaHS at 56 micromol/(kgxd), and rats in the shunt and control groups were injected with the same volume of physiological saline. After 11 weeks of experiment, rats were sacrificed and lung tissues were obtained. The percentage of muscularized artery (MA) was calculated. The changes in relative medial thickness (RMT) in small pulmonary arteries and median pulmonary arteries were examined. Proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1) and phosphorylation extracellular signal-regulated kinase (P-ERK1) protein expression were examined by Western blot, and at the same time, PCNA protein expression by pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells was observed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSAfter 11 weeks of shunt, compared with control group, the percentage of MA increased significantly (25.12 +/- 2.26 vs 14.42 +/- 3.41, P < 0.05), and RMT in small pulmonary arteries and median pulmonary arteries increased significantly in rats of shunt group (23.6 +/- 3.5 vs 12.6 +/- 2.1, 24.8 +/- 1.9 vs 13.5 +/- 2.2, P < 0.05 for all). PCNA protein expression in small and median pulmonary arteries increased significantly (0.49 +/- 0.04 vs 0.39 +/- 0.07, 0.46 +/- 0.08 vs 0.36 +/- 0.05, P < 0.01 for all), and the ratio of PERK/ERK1 protein expression of pulmonary arteries increased significantly (P < 0.01) in rats of shunt group compared with those of control group. After the administration of exogenous H(2)S donor, NaHS, for 11 weeks, in contrast to rats in shunt group, the percentage of MA decreased significantly (21.5 +/- 2.0 vs 25.1 +/- 2.3, P < 0.05), and RMT in small and median pulmonary arteries decreased significantly (20.2 +/- 2.8 vs 23.6 +/- 3.5, 20.8 +/- 3.1 vs 20.8 +/- 3.1, P < 0.05 for all) in rats of shunt + NaHS group. PCNA protein expression in small and median pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells decreased significantly (0.32 +/- 0.06 vs 0.49 +/- 0.04, 0.29 +/- 0.07 vs 0.46 +/- 0.08, P < 0.01 for all), and the ratio of PERK/ERK1 protein expression of pulmonary arteries decreased significantly (P < 0.01) in rats of shunt + NaHS group compared with that of shunt group.

CONCLUSIONH(2)S may play a regulatory role in pulmonary vascular structural remodeling induced by high pulmonary blood flow via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK signal transduction pathway.

Animals ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; pharmacology ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) injection on pulmonary artery pressure and the expression of p38MAPK in lung tissue of rats subjected to chronic hypoxia.

METHODSThirty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (ten in each group): rats in control group were exposed to normoxic condition and the rats in hypoxia group and PNS group were subjected to 4-week hypoxia, and PNS injection (50 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)) was administrated intraperitoneally at 30 min in the PNS group daily before the rats were kept in the hypoxic chamber, while rats in the other two groups received equal dose of normal saline instead. After chronic hypoxia, mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and mean carotid artery pressure (mCAP) were measured. The heart and lung tissues were harvested, and right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle plus ventricular septum (LV+S) were weighed to calculate the ratio of RV/(LV+S). The expression of p38MAPK mRNA was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, the quantity of phosphorylated p38MAPK (p-p38MAPK) in rat lung tissues and pulmonary arterioles was determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, mPAP and the ratio of RV/(LV+S) in the hypoxia group were increased, the expression of p-p38MAPK in pulmonary arterioles and p38MAPK mRNA in the lung were higher (P<0.05). The changes of these parameters in the hypoxia group were significantly attenuated by PNS treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPNS injection was shown to prevent hypoxic pulmonary hypertension at least partly by regulating p38MAPK pathway.

Animals ; Arterioles ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Carotid Arteries ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Heart Ventricles ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; complications ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia ; complications ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Injections ; Lung ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Male ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of long-term exposure to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) on the lung function of TDI-exposed workers.

METHODSA factory was selected for this occupational epidemiological investigation. The workers who were exposed to TDI and had complete physical examination records in recent 3 years were the exposed group (n = 45), while the company's administrative staff, logistics staff, and other non-TDI-exposed workers who had complete physical examination records in recent 3 years were the control group (n = 47). The two groups were compared in terms of lung function indices.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the 2009 exposure group had significantly lower forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1.0), FEV1.0/forced vital capacity (FVC), and maximal expiratory flow at 25% of FVC (MEF25) (P < 0.05), the 2010 exposure group had significantly lower FEV1.0, FEV1.0/FVC,maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), and maximal expiratory flow at 50% of FVC (MEF50) (P < 0.05), and the 2011 exposure group had significantly lower FEV1.0, FEV1.0/FVC, peak expiratory flow (PEF), MEF25, and MEF50 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLong-term exposure to TDI can lead to certain impairment of lung function in workers, which may be reflected by decreased lung function indices such as vital capacity, FVC, FEV1.0, FEV1.0/FVC, PEF, and MVV.

Case-Control Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate ; adverse effects ; Vital Capacity ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo determine the effects of curcumin on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.

METHODOne hundred and forty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 6 groups (24 rats in each group, model group, sham group, prednisone group (0.56 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), curcumin with low dose 5 mg group, curcumin with middle dose group 10 mg and curcumin with high dose group 20 mg per 100 g of body weight). Rats in all groups except in sham group were injected with BLM intratracheally. Curcumin with different doses were given by gavage one time everyday for 7, 14 and 28 days. Prednisone were given to rats in prednisone group, po, serving as the positive treatment group. On the 7th, 14th, 28th day, the lung functions (inspiratory resistance, maximal volutary ventilation, forced vital capacity, Fev 0.2/FVC, peak expiratory flow) were determinated in experimental rats, respectively, and the concentrations of hydroxyproline in lung homogenates of each rat were assayed.

RESULTAdministration of curcumin in different doses improved lung functions of BLM-induced fibrotic rats in the all experimental days; and it decreased the concentration of hydroxyproline in lung homogenates compared with those levels in model control group; and it also lessened the hyperplasia of BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.

CONCLUSIONAdministration of curcumin can suppress BLM induced pulmonary fibrosis indicated by improved respiratory function, as well as companied with low content of hydroxyproline in lung tissue of rats.

Animals ; Bleomycin ; adverse effects ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibition of three C2 steroidal saponins from Cynanchum auriculatum on the cell growth and cell cycle of human lung cancer A549 cells.

METHODA549 cells were exposed to three C21 steroidal saponins of different concentrations (5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 micromol L(-1)) for 48 hours. After 48 h, MTT assay was used to evaluate the inhibiting effects of three C21 steroidal saponins on the proliferation of the A549 cells. Exponential growth phase A549 cells were treated with 47, 34, 60 micromol x L(-1) of three C21 steroidal saponins respectively for 12, 24, 48 h, then the changes of cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTThe three C21 steroidal saponins could inhibit the growth of A549 cells in dose-dependent manner and IC50 is 46. 07 mol x L(-1), 33.02 mol x L(-1), 59.92 mol x L(-1) respectively. The cell cycle analysis showed that wilfoside C1N and wilfoside C3N increased the percentage of G0/G1 phase cells and decreased G2/M and S-phase cells while the proportion of cells in S-phase was lower and in G2/M phase the proportion was higher than control when the cells were cultivated with wilfoside K1N (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThree C21 steroidal saponins could inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells in dose-dependent manner and the mechanism may be related to its arresting the cell cycle.

Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cynanchum ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Saponins ; chemistry ; pharmacology

To investigate the effects of cigarette smoking in different manners on acute lung injury in rats.The commercially available cigarettes with tar of 1,5, 11 mg were smoked in Canada depth smoking (health canada method, HCM) manner, and those with tar of 11 mg were also smoked in international standard (ISO) smoking manner. Rats were fixed and exposed to mainstream in a manner of nose-mouth exposure. After 28 days, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from left lung were collected for counting and classification of inflammatory cells and determination of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α. The right lungs were subjected to histological examination and determination of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and glutathione, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.In both HCM and ISO manners, the degree of lung injury was closely related to the tar content of cigarettes, and significant decrease in the body weight of rats was observed after smoking for one week. In a HCM manner, smoking with cigarette of 11 mg tar resulted in robust infiltration of macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils into lungs, significant increase in IL-1β and TNF-α levels and MPO activities, and significant decrease in GSH levels and SOD activities and increase in ROS and MDA levels (all<0.05). Smoking with cigarette of 5 mg tar led to moderate increase in IL-1β and TNF-α levels, and MPO activities (all<0.05), and moderate decrease in GSH levels and SOD activities and increase of ROS and MDA levels (all<0.05). However, smoking with cigarette of 1 mg tar affected neither inflammatory cell infiltration nor IL-1β and TNF-α levels.Cigarette smoking in nose-mouth exposure manner can induce acute lung injury in rats; and the degree of lung injury is closely related to the content of tar and other hazards in cigarettes.
Acute Lung Injury ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte ; drug effects ; Glutathione ; analysis ; drug effects ; Interleukin-1beta ; analysis ; drug effects ; Lung ; chemistry ; pathology ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; pathology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; drug effects ; Neutrophils ; drug effects ; pathology ; Peroxidase ; analysis ; drug effects ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; analysis ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Superoxide Dismutase ; analysis ; drug effects ; Tobacco Products ; adverse effects ; classification ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis ; drug effects ; Weight Loss ; drug effects