Vitamin E reduces bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice: biochemical and morphological studies

Abstract

Bleomycin is a widely used antineoplastic drug which produces dose- and time-dependent interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in humans. The mechanism of bleomycin-induced lung injury is not well understood. However, current data show that bleomycin can generate reactive oxygen species such as superoxide and hydroxyl radicals.

The antioxidant role of vitamin E in biological systems is well known. We investigated the effect of vitamin E on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice biochemically and histologically.

Animals were divided into four groups: control, saline + vitamin E (S/Vit E), bleomycin + saline (Bleo/S) and bleomycin + vitamin E (Bleo/Vit E). Bleomycin was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 10 mg/kg in Bleo/S and Bleo/Vit E groups, and vitamin E was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 15 mg/animal in S/Vit E and Bleo/Vit E groups twice weekly for 4 weeks. The control group received saline.

As a marker of collagen amount or fibrosis in lung tissue, hydroxyproline and soluble protein content were measured and hydroxyproline/soluble protein ratio per gram wet lung tissue was calculated. For hydroxyproline and protein determinations, and histologic examination of lung tissue, 6 mice from the control and S/Vit E groups and 7 mice from the Bleo/S and Bleo/Vit E groups were killed at at 4, 6 and 8 weeks after administration of bleomycin. The mean hydroxyproline/soluble protein ratio of the Bleo/Vit E group was significantly lower than that of the Bleo/S group and significantly higher than those of the control and S/Vit E groups at 6 and 8 weeks (p < 0.05). Parallel with the biochemical findings, the grade of the histological lesions in the Bleo/Vit E group was lower than that in the Bleo/S group, but higher than those of the S/Vit E and control groups (p < 0.05).

These results suggest that a high dose of vitamin E considerably reduces the fibrotic effect of bleomycin on lung tissue in mice.

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See also:

- Official Web Site: The Di Bella Method;

- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Alpha tocopheryl acetate/Vitamin E, approximately 20 grams per day orally);

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- Solution of retinoids in vitamin E in the Di Bella Method biological multitherapy;

- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - All-Trans Retinoic Acid, Analogues and/or Derivatives - Approximately 60mg per day orally: 40mg per day Beta-Carotene/β-Carotene, 10mg per day ATRA and 10mg per day Axerophthol palmitate);

- All-Trans-Retinoic Acid (ATRA - analogues and/or derivatives) - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;

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- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Calcium, 2 grams per day, orally);

- The Di Bella Method (A Variable Part - Omega 3 Essential/Unsaturated Fatty Acids. From 1.5 grams up to 3.0 grams per day orally);

- The Di Bella Method (A Variable Part - Chondroitin sulfate, up to 3-4 grams per day, orally);

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