Role of thioredoxin nitration in bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats

Oxidant stimulation has been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanisms of thioredoxin (Trx) nitration during the development of IPF. Rat IPF model was established by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (BLM). Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and BLM-treated group in which rats were intratracheally instilled with a single dose of BLM (5.0 mg/kg body weight in 1.0 ml phosphate buffered saline). At 7 or 28 days after instillation, rats were euthanized. Histopathologic and biochemical exams were performed. The activity and protein level of thioredoxin were assessed. The thioredoxin nitration level was determined using immunoprecipitation (IP) and immunoblotting (IB) techniques. Our results demonstrated that protein tyrosine nitration increased in BLM group compared with control group. Trx activity decreased in BLM group compared with control group, while its expression and nitration level increased dramatically in BLM group compared with control group. Our results indicated that Trx nitration might be involved in the pathogenesis of IPF.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author