Published online Jun 15, 2000. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v6.i3.353
Revised: February 3, 2000
Accepted: March 1, 2000
Published online: June 15, 2000
AIM: To study the changes of endogenous transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in lung following intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury and their effects on lung injury and repair.
METHODS: Sixty Wistar rats were divided into five groups, which underwent sham-operation, ischemia (45 min), and reperfusion (6, 24 and 48 h, respectively) after ischemia (45 min). Immunohistochemical method was used to observe the localization and amounts of both growth factors.
RESULTS: Positive signals of both growth factors could be found in normal lung, mainly in alveolar cells and endothelial cells of vein. After ischemia and reperfusion insult, expressions of both growth factors were increased and their amounts at 6 h were larger than those of normal control or of 24 and 48 h after insult.
CONCLUSION: The endogenous bFGF and TGF-βexpression appears to be up-regulated in the lung following intestinal ischemia and reperfusion, suggesting that both growth factors may be involved in the process of lung injury and repair.