Krishna G, Liu K, Shigemitsu H, Gao M, Raffin TA, Rosen GD., Am J Pathol. 158(3):997-1004., 2001 Mar 01
Investigators
Abstract
In this study we evaluate the antifibrotic properties of PG-490-88, a water-soluble derivative of triptolide. Triptolide is an oxygenated diterpene that is derived from a traditional Chinese herb that has potent immunosuppressive and antitumor activity.We used the intratracheal bleomycin mouse model and found that PG490-88 inhibits fibrosis in the bleomycin group when given the same day or 5 days after bleomycin. PG490-88 also markedly reduced the number of myofibroblasts in the bleomycin treatment group.
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed a significant decrease in TGF-beta in the PG490-88-treated groups compared to the bleomycin-treated group. Additionally, triptolide blocked bleomycin-induced increase in TGF-beta mRNA in cultured normal human lung fibroblasts.
The efficacy of PG490-88 when administered late after bleomycin installation suggests a potential role in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
