Intervention effects of apyrase on silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice

AIM: To investigate the effect of apyrase on the experimental silicosis. METHODS: C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into control group, silica treatment group, silica+apyrase group and silica+NS group. A mouse model of lung fibrosis was induced by crystalline silica particles (50 mg/kg, via oropharyngeal instillation), and were sacrificed at 3 h, 7 d, 14 d and 28 d. Apyrase was delivered by oropharyngeal aspiration at the same time and 4 h after silica challenge. The lung indexes were calculated and the concentration of ATP was detected by bioluminescent assay. The mRNA expression levels of collagen type Ⅰ(Col Ⅰ), collagen type Ⅲ (Col Ⅲ) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) were examined by real-time PCR. The protein levels of TGF-β1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The elevated lung index and collagen levels showed that silicosis model was established successfully. Compared with silica group, apyrase treatment significantly alleviated silica-induced inflammation, reduced inflammation score on day 7, and decreased the lung index, collagen volume fraction and the mRNA expression of Col Ⅰand Col Ⅲ on day 28. Treatment with apyrase effectively down-regulated the mRNA levels of TGF-β1 in the lung tissues and TGF-β1 protein levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid on day 7.CONCLUSION: Apyrase attenuates the pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis of silicosis, which may be related with down-regulation of ATP and TGF-β1 in the lung tissues.