Expression of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 in Lungs of Bleomycin-induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

To study the role of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF β1) in bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis,TGF β1 protein expression was measured by immunohistochemical technique in lung tissue section of male Wistar mice treated with bleomycin through intratracheal instillation on days 3,7,14,30 It was found stronger TGF β1 protein expression was detected in bronchiolar epithelium of the treated group of mice,but weak expression observed in the control group On day 3 and 7,large amount of TGF β1 strong positive alveolar macrophages was found and by the day 14 and 30 scanty, isolated TGF β1 alveolar macrophages found in alveoli and alveolar interstitium It concludes that TGF β1 protein expression in alveolar macrophages markedly increase in acute alveolitis and this increased expression of TGF β1 protein in acute inflammatory stage might play an important role in bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis