Intervention of transforming pulmonary fibrosis with NF-κB p65 antisense oligonucleotide

NF-κB, especially p65 subunit, plays important role in the process of pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, we transformed fibroblast into myofibroblast induced by bleomycin, and then studied the effects of NF-κB p65 antisense oligonucleotide on pulmonary fibrosis in mouse model.

Pulmonary fibrosis was induced by bleomycin in C57BL/6 mouse (modeling group). The NF-κB antisense oligonucleotide was injected intravenously into mouse 6 hours before inducing (test group), we performed broncho-alveolar lavage and blood collecting through cardiac puncture. Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (BALF) and serum from normal C57BL/6 mouse (control group) were collected for comparison. Immunohistochemistry staining of the NF-κB and α-SMA on lung tissues and cultured cells were carried out in each group, respectively.

The expression level of NF-κB and α-SMA were both consistently higher in modeling group when compared with control group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, they were reduced significantly through the intervention of NF-κB p65 antisense oligonucleotide in the test group (P < 0.05). More importantly, the expression of NF-κB was positively correlated with α-SMA.

our study suggests the potential in prevention of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis with NF-κB p65 antisense oligonucleotide.