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The human interleukin (IL) 6 and IL-6 receptor genes ensure interstitial pneumonia with the characteristic histopathological alterations. The transforming growth factor beta-1 and platelet-derived growth factor B genes cause fibrosis and less of alveolitis, but IL-6 and IL-6 receptor induce effective alveolitis and less of fibrosis. For the experimental observations, expression vectors are incorporated in Wistar rats to the locally overexpression humoral factors in the lungs through the trachea.

Introduction of the interleukin-10 gene into mice inhibited bleomycin-induced lung injury in vivo. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 278: L914-L922, 2000.--Interleukin (IL)-10 has been shown to reduce many inflammatory reactions. We investigated the in vivo effects of IL-10 on a bleomycin-induced lung injury model. Hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-liposomes containing a human IL-10 expression vector (hIL10-HVJ) or a balanced salt solution as a control (Cont-HVJ) was intraperitoneally injected into mice on day -3. This was followed by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (0.8 mg/kg) on day 0. Myeloperoxidase activity of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and tumor necrosis factor-[Alpha] mRNA expression in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells on day 7 and hydroxyproline content of the whole lung on day 21 were inhibited significantly by hILl0-HVJ treatment. However, Cont-HVJ treatment could not suppress any of these parameters. We also examined the in vitro effects of IL-10 on the human lung fibroblast cell line WI-38. IL-10 significantly reduced constitutive and transforming growth factor-[Beta]-stimulated type I collagen mRNA expression. However, IL-10 did not affect the proliferation of WI-38 cells induced by platelet-derived growth factor. These data suggested that exogenous IL-10 may be useful in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. transforming growth factor-[Beta]; pulmonary fibrosis; collagen