Pentoxifylline Regulates Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Expression and Protein Kinase A Phosphorylation in Radiation-Induced Lung Fibrosis

Biomed Res Int. 2017:2017:1279280. doi: 10.1155/2017/1279280. Epub 2017 Feb 27.

Abstract

Purpose. Radiation-induced lung fibrosis (RILF) is a serious late complication of radiotherapy. In vitro studies have demonstrated that pentoxifylline (PTX) has suppressing effects in extracellular matrix production in fibroblasts, while the antifibrotic action of PTX alone using clinical dose is yet unexplored. Materials and Methods. We used micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histopathological analysis to evaluate the antifibrotic effects of PTX in a rat model of RILF. Results. Micro-CT findings showed that lung density, volume loss, and mediastinal shift are significantly increased at 16 weeks after irradiation. Simultaneously, histological analysis demonstrated thickening of alveolar walls, destruction of alveolar structures, and excessive collagen deposition in the irradiated lung. PTX treatment effectively attenuated the fibrotic changes based on both micro-CT and histopathological analyses. Western analysis also revealed increased levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor- (PAI-) 1 and fibronectin (FN) and PTX treatment reduced expression of PAI-1 and FN by restoring protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation but not TGF-β/Smad in both irradiated lung tissues and epithelial cells. Conclusions. Our results demonstrate the antifibrotic effect of PTX on radiation-induced lung fibrosis and its effect on modulation of PKA and PAI-1 expression as possible antifibrotic mechanisms.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / biosynthesis*
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • Epithelial Cells / radiation effects
  • Fibronectins / biosynthesis
  • Fibronectins / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lung / drug effects*
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung / radiation effects
  • Pentoxifylline / administration & dosage*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / biosynthesis*
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / genetics
  • Pulmonary Alveoli / pathology
  • Pulmonary Alveoli / radiation effects
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / drug therapy*
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / pathology
  • Radiotherapy / adverse effects
  • Rats
  • X-Ray Microtomography

Substances

  • Fibronectins
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Pentoxifylline