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Updated: Nov 8, 2025
Oropharyngeal Administration of Bleomycin in the Murine Model of Pulmonary Fibrosis
Published on: May 9, 2025
Inhibitory effects of somatostatin analogue in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis
Tatsuya Hosono1,2, Masashi Bando1, Yoshiko Mizushina1
1Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
Background And Objectives:
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and lethal lung disease. An increased expression of somatostatin receptor subtype 2 in patients with IPF was identified and lung fibroblasts expressed somatostatin receptors in vitro. In addition, somatostatin analogue inhibits the expression of transforming growth factor-β, insulin-like growth factor (IGF) -1, platelet-derived growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor. Therefore, we examined the effects of somatostatin analogue on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. In a similar model, it has been reported that administration of high-dose somatostatin analogs suppressed acute inflammation and subsequent pulmonary fibrosis. However, it was clarified that the same effect can be obtained even at the dose used in clinical practice.
Methods:
C57BL/6 mice received a single tracheal instillation of bleomycin. After randomly allocated, mice were treated with subcutaneous injection of either normal saline or somatostatin analogue.
Results:
Somatostatin analogue reduced the number of neutrophils and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and IGF-1 level in serum and BAL fluid and attenuated weight loss. The hydroxyproline content of the lung homogenates in somatostatin analogue treatment group was significantly lower than in that of normal saline treatment group.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that somatostatin analogue may attenuate pulmonary fibrosis after bleomycin treatment at the dose used in clinical practice.
Insights
Somatostatin analogue treatment reduced inflammation and lung fibrosis in a mouse model. This therapeutic effect was observed even at a clinically relevant dose, suggesting potential for treating pulmonary fibrosis.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease.
- Somatostatin receptor subtype 2 is upregulated in IPF patients.
- Lung fibroblasts express somatostatin receptors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of somatostatin analogue in a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis mouse model.
- To evaluate the effect of somatostatin analogue at a clinically relevant dosage.
Main Methods:
- C57BL/6 mice were induced with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.
- Mice were treated with either normal saline or somatostatin analogue via subcutaneous injection.
Main Results:
- Somatostatin analogue significantly reduced neutrophils and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL).
- It also decreased insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels in serum and BAL fluid, and attenuated weight loss.
- Hydroxyproline content in lung homogenates was significantly lower in the somatostatin analogue group.
Conclusions:
- Somatostatin analogue demonstrates potential in attenuating pulmonary fibrosis.
- The therapeutic effect is achievable at doses used in clinical practice.
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