Open AccessExpression of Heme Oxygenase‐1 in the Lungs of Rats Exposed to Crystalline Silica
Author(s) -
Nagatomo Hiroko,
Morimoto Yasuo,
Oyabu Takako,
Hirohashi Masami,
Ogami Akira,
Yamato Hiroshi,
Kuroda Kaori,
Higashi Toshiaki,
Tanaka Isamu
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of occupational health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 1348-9585
DOI - 10.1539/joh.48.124
Subject(s) - heme oxygenase , immunostaining , oxidative stress , lung , heme , saline , chemistry , intratracheal instillation , pathogenesis , pathology , western blot , in vivo , medicine , andrology , immunology , biology , immunohistochemistry , biochemistry , bronchoalveolar lavage , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , enzyme
Expression of Heme Oxygenase‐1 in the Lungs of Rats Exposed to Crystalline Silica: Hiroko Nagatomo, et al. Department of Occupational Pneumology, Institute of Industrial and Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health —Oxidative stress is thought to be the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis induced by particles, and heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) protects lung tissue against oxidative stress. We hypothesized that HO‐1 is also associated with oxidative lung injury caused by exposure to particles. The present study was conducted to investigate the time course of HO‐1 expression of lungs exposed to crystalline silica in vivo. Male Wistar rats were administered 1 mg or 2 mg of crystalline silica suspended in saline by a single intratracheal instillation and were sacrificed at 3 d, 1 wk, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months of recovery time. The expression of HO‐1 was observed by western blot analysis and immunostaining. Protein levels of HO‐1 were increased compared to the controls at 3 d, and from 1 month to 6 months following intratracheal instillation of 2 mg of crystalline silica. The levels of HO‐1 were increased compared to the controls from 1 month to 6 months following intratracheal instillation of 1 mg of crystalline silica. Many HO‐1 positive cells were found particularly in the alveolar macrophages during immunostaining. These findings suggest that HO‐1 is related to lung injury arising from exposure to crystalline silica.