Thymulin inhibits monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension modulating interleukin-6 expression and suppressing p38 pathway

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2008

Authors

Henriques-Coelho, T (Author) FMUP; Oliveira, SM (Author) FMUP; Moura, RS (Author) Other; Roncon-Albuquerque R, Jr. (Author) Other; Neves, AL (Author) Other; Santos, M (Author) Other; Nogueira-Silva, C (Author) Other; La Fuente Carvalho, F (Author) Other; Brandão-Nogueira, A (Author) FMUP; Correia-Pinto, J (Author) Other; Leite-Moreira, AF (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Endocrinology

Vol. 149 No. 9

Pages: 4367-4373

ISSN: 0013-7227

Publisher: Endocrine Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 35 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 36 Citations

Pubmed / Medline

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-WF1

DOI: 10.1210/en.2008-0018

Abstract (EN): The pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) includes an inflammatory response. Thymulin, a zinc-dependent thymic hormone, has important immunobiological effects by inhibiting various proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. We investigated morphological and hemodynamic effects of thymulin administration in a rat model of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PH, as well as the pattern of proinflammatory cytokine gene expression and the intracellular pathways involved. Adult Wistar rats received an injection of MCT (60 mg/kg, sc) or an equal volume of saline. One day after, the animals randomly received during 3 wk an injection of saline, vehicle (zinc plus carboxymethyl cellulose), or thymulin (100 ng/kg, sc, daily). At d 23-25, the animals were anesthetized for hemodynamic recordings, whereas heart and lungs were collected for morphometric and molecular analysis. Thymulin prevented morphological, hemodynamic, and inflammatory cardiopulmonary profile characteristic of MCT-induced PH, whereas part of these effects were also observed in MCT-treated animals injected with the thymulin's vehicle containing zinc. The pulmonary thymulin effect was likely mediated through suppression of p38 pathway.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7