Objective To observe the effects of hydrogen peroxide on the expression of transforming growth factorβ1(TGF-β1) and Smad3 protein in A549 cells. Methods A549 cells were cultured with different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. MTT assay was used to determine the cell growth and survival rates. The level of TGF-β1 and p-Smad3 protein were detected by western blotting. Results It was observed that hydrogen peroxide significantly inhibit proliferation of A549 cells. When the concentration of hydrogen peroxide was 1.0 mmol/L, the inhibition ratio reaches 46.34%, and the level of TGF-β1 and p-Smad3 protein were increased in a time-dependence manner and reached a peak after 24 h, then decreased a little but also remained at high level. Conclusions In the early oxidative damage, A549 cells express high level of TGF-β1 and p-Smad3 protein. It may be relevant to tissue repair and remodeling after lung injury.
Objective To investigate the effects of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) on airway remodeling in obese asthmatic mice and intervention effects of pirfenidone. Methods Seventy-five C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups, namely a blank control group (group A), an obese group (group B), an obese asthmatic group (group C), a budesonide treatment group (group D) and a pirfenidone treatment group (group E). The mice in the B, C, D, and E groups were fed with high fat diets, then the mice in the C, D, and E groups were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) to establish the model of chronic obese asthma. The mice in group A were fed with normal diets, sensitized and challenged with normal saline. The mice in group D were treated with budesonide (0.5 mg/ml), and the mice in group E were treated with pirfenidone (300 mg/kg). After 4 weeks of treatment, the total number of white cells as well as the percentage of leukocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils and macrophage in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were counted. ELISA and Western blot were used to evaluate the expression of TGF-β. The pathological changes of mice were observed under light microscope by HE and periodic acid-Schiff staining. Meanwhile the remodeling indices were measured including total bronchial wall area (WAt), smooth muscle area (WAm), and bronchial basement membrane perimeter (Pbm). Results The levels of leukocyte and eosinophils in BALF, expression of TGF-β, WAt/Pbm and WAm/Pbm in group C were higher than those in group A, B, D, and E (allP<0.05). The levels of eosinophils in BALF, WAt/Pbm in group E were lower than those in group D (allP<0.05). The level of TGF-β decreased in a sequence of group C>D>E>B>A (allP<0.05). The expression of TGF-β was in a positive correlation with eosinophil percentage in BALF (r=0.79,P<0.01). Conclusions The expression of TGF-β in the airway of obese asthmatic mice is closely related to airway inflammation, airway hyper-secretion and airway remodeling. Pirfenidone can effectively inhibit the expression of TGF-β and improve airway remodeling.
Objective To determine the expression levels of micro RNA (miR)-196, miR-217, and transforming growth factor β receptor 1 (TGFβR1) protein in the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissues and its adjacent tissues, to reveal the relationship among them in the pathological process of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Methods A total of 30 cases’ pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissues and its adjacent tissues were collected. The expression levels of miR-196b and miR-217 in the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and adjacent tissues were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction method, the level of TGFβR1 protein was detected by Western blotting method. Results In the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissues, the expression levels of miR-196b and TGFβR1 protein were significantly higher than those of adjacent tissues (P<0.001), while the level of miR-217 was significantly lower than that of adjacent tissues (P=0.001). For further detection, the level of miR-196b in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissues was significantly positively correlated with the expression level of TGFβR1 protein (r=0.803, P<0.001), while the expression level of miR-217 was negatively correlated with the expression level of TGFβR1 protein (r=–0.839, P<0.001). Conclusions Expression TGFβR1 protein in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissues may be bi-directionally regulated by miR-196b and miR-217. This two-way regulating mechanism may be one of the important mechanisms for restricting the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, implying a potential target for treatment of pancreatic cancer.