Skip to Content
Merck
  • Role of matrix metalloproteinases in radiation-induced lung injury in alveolar epithelial cells of Bama minipigs.

Role of matrix metalloproteinases in radiation-induced lung injury in alveolar epithelial cells of Bama minipigs.

Experimental and therapeutic medicine (2015-12-02)
Haiying Yue, Kai Hu, Wenqi Liu, Jie Jiang, Yuhua Chen, Rensheng Wang
ABSTRACT

Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a common complication associated with thoracic radiotherapy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a single 15-Gy dose of right-thoracic lung irradiation on the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and other proteins in the alveolar epithelial type II (AE2) cells of Bama minipigs. All minipigs received either right-thoracic irradiation or sham irradiation under anesthesia, and were sacrificed at 4, 8, 12 or 24 weeks after irradiation. Collagen deposition was measured using Massons trichrome staining. Surfactant protein A (SP-A), transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1), MMP2, MMP9, vimentin and E-cadherin protein expression levels were evaluated using western blot analysis, and the MMP2 and MMP9 gelatinase activities were tested using gelatin zymography. SP-A and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) co-localization was visualized using double immunofluorescence staining. At each time-point following irradiation, a significant increase in TGFβ1, α-SMA, MMP2, MMP9 and vimentin protein expression levels and MMP2 and MMP9 gelatinase activity were observed in the irradiated lungs compared with the sham-irradiated controls. By contrast, SP-A and E-cadherin protein expression levels decreased in a time-dependent manner post-irradiation. SP-A and α-SMA co-localization was observed in irradiated alveolar epithelial cells. These data demonstrate that E-cadherin, SP-A, MMP2 and MMP9 may function as sensitive predictors of RILI. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurs in the irradiated lungs of Bama minipigs, and MMP2 and MMP9 may contribute to EMT in AE2 cells by regulating TGFβ1. Therefore, EMT may serve a crucial function in the development of RILI.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-MMP-2 Antibody, a.a. 468-483 hMMP2, clone 42-5D11, clone 42-5D11, Chemicon®, from mouse
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-GAPDH Antibody, from rabbit, purified by affinity chromatography
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-MMP-9 Antibody, NT, from rabbit, purified by affinity chromatography