A key role for NOX4 in epithelial cell death during development of lung fibrosis.

ABSTRACT:

Unlabelled

The pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis is linked to oxidative stress, possibly generated by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating NADPH oxidase NOX4. Epithelial cell death is a crucial early step in the development of the disease, followed only later by the fibrotic stage. We demonstrate that in lungs of patients with idiopathic lung fibrosis, there is strong expression of NOX4 in hyperplastic alveolar type II cells.

Aim

To study a possible causative role of NOX4 in the death of alveolar cells, we have generated NOX4-deficient mice.

Results

Three weeks after administration of bleomycin, wild-type (WT) mice developed massive fibrosis, whereas NOX4-deficient mice displayed almost normal lung histology, and only little Smad2 phosphorylation and accumula

SUBMITTER: Carnesecchi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3163392 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature