[Potential role of cytokines in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis]
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Updated: Sep 14, 2026

Adoptive Transfer of IL-33-Stimulated Macrophages into Bleomycin-Induced Mouse Models to Study Their Effect on Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis In Vivo
Published on: May 5, 2023
Xiao-mei Wu1, Xin-yan Wang, Fu-hui Chen
1Department of Respiratory Disease, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, Heilongjiang, China.
Objective:
To investigate the expression of platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF), and study the potential role of cytokines in the development of IPF.
Methods:
The immunohistochemical methods were used to determine the expression of PDGF, TGF-beta in TBLB from patients with IPF.
Results:
In IPF patients, TGF-beta mainly existed at tiny bronchial epithelial cells, alveolar epithelial type-II cells and alveolar macrophages, showing strong expression compared with controls (P<0.01). PDGF mainly existed at fibroblast-like cells surrounding pulmonary vessels, fibroblasts, tiny bronchial epithelial cells, alveolar epithelial type-II cells and alveolar macrophages, showing strong expression compared with controls (P<0.01).
Conclusion:
PDGF and TGF-beta, which interact with pulmonary mesenchymal cells, are involved in the formation of pulmonary fibrosis.
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