Role of Slc7a11 in Bleomycin-Induced Lung Injury

Oxidative stress has been implicated in lung injury and repair. We seek to understand how alterations in the plasma redox potential (Eh) of the thiol disulfide couple cysteine (Cys) and cystine (CySS) (Eh Cys/CySS) affect this process. Previously, we reported that Eh Cys/CySS oxidation promotes a pro-fibrotic phenotype in lung fibroblasts and identified the cystine/glutamate exchanger solute carrier family 7, member 11 (Slc7a11) as a regulator of Eh Cys/CySS. We also observed that pharmacological agents capable of altering Slc7a11 expression affect lung fibroblast phenotype in vitro. We hypothesized that alterations in Slc7a11 expression would affect lung injury in vivo and set out to test this in C57Bl6 mice exposed to bleomycin. However, we did not observe changes in bleomycin-induced lung injury in animals treated with pharmacological alterations in Slc7a11 expression or when Slc7a11 knockout animals were tested. Thus, the role of Slc7a11 in lung injury remains uncertain.