IL-12 attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

inducer of interferon (IFN)-g. We postulated that IL-12 would attenuate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. To test this hypothesis, we administered IL-12 or murine serum albumin to bleomycin-treated mice by daily intraperitoneal injection until day 12. Mice treated with IL-12 demonstrated decreased hydroxyproline levels compared with control treated mice. Furthermore, administration of IL-12 led to a time-dependent increase in both lung and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid IFN-g. The antifibrotic effect of IL-12 could be attenuated with simultaneous administration of neutralizing anti-IFN-g antibodies. These findings support the notion that IL-12 attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis via modulation of IFN-g production. lung; chemokines; inflammation; in vivo animal models IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS (IPF) is a chronic an