Apoptosis and Bcl-2 Expression in Irradiated Lungs and the Effect of Pentoxifylline

Apoptosis and Bcl-2 Expression in Irradiated Lungs and the Effect of Pentoxifylline

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We measured number of bcl-2, apoptotic, neutrophil, and surfactant apoprotein D (SP-D) positive cells in irradiated rat lungs Heart Health during different time points after the sublethal whole-thorax irradiation of rats.We also investigated the influence of pentoxifylline (PTX) therapy on these markers.Wistar rats were given 15 Gy thoracic irradiation and PTX (35 mg/kg) twice a week.Animals were examined histologically and imunohistochemically at intervals from 1-12 weeks.In non-treated rats compared with treated rats, bcl-2 expression was significantly inhibited from 4 weeks after irradiation.

A higher apoptosis presence in non-treated rats from 4 weeks was found and apoptosis development in PTX-treated animals was delayed and started 8 weeks after irradiation.Similar differences were measured during neutrophil granulocytes examination.Neutrophil penetration in non-treated rats was found 5 weeks after irradiation in contrast to the RP onset of PTX-treated animals 8 weeks after irradiation.The number of SP-D positive cells in non-treated rats observed until 5 weeks after irradiation was higher than in the control group.PTX-treated animals expressed higher number of SP-D positive cells during the whole experiment than the control group.

We suggest that apoptosis is linked to Zippo neutrophil granulocyte actions during the RP onset and that PTX-therapy causes diminished inflammation development.