rHuKGF ameliorates protease/anti-protease imbalance in emphysematous mice

We attempted to elucidate the beneficial role of rHuKGF supplementation in the amelioration of protease/antiprotease imbalance and TGF-β1 signaling pathway leading to alveolar tissue maintenance in elastase induced emphysematous mice. Thirty two male C57BL mice were divided into four groups i.e. control, emphysema, therapy and rHuKGF only and were oropharyngeally instilled with saline/porcine pancreatic elastase/rHuKGF. Subsequently, lungs from mice were collected for histopathology and molecular biology studies. rHuKGF supplementation significantly ameliorated the mRNA expressions of CRP, TNF-α, MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-8, MMP-9, MMP-12, A1AT, TIMP1, TIMP2, PCNA, Ki67, SPB, SPC and PdPn. MMP-2 and TIMP-1 enzyme activity was resolved due to rHuKGF. Likewise, due to rHuKGF supplementation the protein expressions of CRP, MMP2, MMP7, MMP8 & CTSE, SERPINE1, SERPINA1, TIMP4, GSTA1, HDAC3, PCNA, CDH1, SP-B & SP-C were ameliorated. Moreover, the mRNA expressions of overall TGFβ-1 pathway was also significantly ameliorated due to rHuKGF supplementation. Lung histopathology represents recovery of lost alveolar septa due to rHuKGF supplementation. Moreover, positive DAB staining of PCNA, SP-B & SP-C was observed due to rHuKGF supplementation at tissue level. rHuKGF is therapeutically potent in maintaining pulmonary tissue integrity by amelioration of protease/antiprotease imbalance and TGFβ-1 pathway in emphysema.