Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026
Establishment and Validation of a Rat Model of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated with Pulmonary Fibrosis
Published on: May 23, 2025
[Role of fibronectin in rat pulmonary fibrosis]
1Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Objective:
To study the roles of fibronectin (FN) played in rat pulmonary fibrosis.
Methods:
The dynamic change of FN was observed in bleomycin-induced rat pulmonary fibrosis using immunohistochemical technique. Northern blot analysis and immunocytochemistry techniques were performed to detect the expression of type I, III procollagen mRNA and their relevant proteins in cultured rat pulmonary fibroblasts (PFbs) after FN treatment.
Results:
(1) The pulmonary tissue of rats which received bleomycin showed continuously strong positive reaction with anti-FN. (2) The expression of type I, III procollagen mRNA in rat PFbs enhanced at 2 h after FN treatment, and reached their peaks at 6 h, 12 h respectively. The expression of type I, III procollagen proteins detected by immunocytochemistry was also increased after the FN treatment (P < 0.01). Anti-integrin alpha(5) monoclonal antibody could partially inhibit the effect of FN on enhancing the expression of type I, III procollagen in PFbs (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
FN could up-regulate the synthesis of type I, III procollagen mainly by enhancing the transcriptions of procollagen genes.
Insights
Fibronectin (FN) significantly increases collagen synthesis in rat lung cells, promoting pulmonary fibrosis. This occurs by enhancing the transcription of procollagen genes, highlighting FN
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Biochemistry
Context:
- Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive lung disease characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix.
- Fibronectin (FN) is a key extracellular matrix protein implicated in various fibrotic processes.
- Understanding the specific roles of FN in pulmonary fibrosis is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
Purpose:
- To investigate the role of fibronectin (FN) in the pathogenesis of rat pulmonary fibrosis.
- To examine the effect of FN on the expression of type I and III procollagen in rat pulmonary fibroblasts (PFbs).
Summary:
- Immunohistochemistry revealed continuous strong FN expression in bleomycin-induced rat pulmonary fibrosis.
- FN treatment significantly upregulated type I and III procollagen mRNA and protein expression in PFbs.
- The upregulation of procollagen synthesis by FN was partially inhibited by an anti-integrin alpha(5) antibody, suggesting an integrin-mediated mechanism.
Impact:
- Fibronectin (FN) plays a significant role in promoting pulmonary fibrosis by upregulating collagen synthesis.
- The findings suggest that FN enhances procollagen gene transcription, contributing to the fibrotic process.
- Targeting FN or its signaling pathways may offer a therapeutic strategy for managing pulmonary fibrosis.
