The Expressions Of GM-CSF And BFGF In The Progress Of Silicosis And Its Clinical Significance

Aim:To explore the expression of GM-CSF and bFGF in the progress of silicosis as well asits potential application in early diagnosis and treatment of silicosis.Methods:1. A total of102silica-exposed individuals (of which34are phaseâ… silicosis patients,defined as the â…  group,32are phaseâ…¡silicosis patients, defined as the â…¡ group,36arephase â…¢ silicosis patients, defined as the â…¢ group) and37silica-unexposed individuals(defined as the control group) were recruited respectively, venous blood samples of theseindividuals were collected, ELISA was then used to measure the serum concentrations ofGM-CSF and bFGF for all the individuals. And then, the correlation between the GM-CSFand bFGF serum concentrations and the silicosis staging was evaluated.2. Trachea-unexposed silica-instilled rat silicosis model was established, and ELISAagain used to measure the serum and BALF concentrations of GM-CSF and bFGF in ratswith different durations of silica-contamination (at day7, day14, day21, day28and day60). The protein expression level of GM-CSF and bFGF in lung tissue was delaminatedwith IHC and Western blotting. The mRNA expression level of GM-CSF and bFGF in lungtissue of rats was detected by RT-PCR assay.Results:1. The lung tissue are featured by aggregations and infiltrations of inflammatory cells, thickened alveolar septa, proliferations of the fibrous tissue and structural alterations of thenormal Alveoli in silicosis rats, which are accurate reflections of pathological changes inlung tissue of silicosis patients as well as good indicatives of the successful establishmentof the trachea-unexposed silica-instilled rat silicosis model.2. The serum concentrations of GM-CSF and bFGF were increased gradually from thecontrol group, Phase I group, Phase II group to phase III groupt.3. Starting from silica-unexposed rats, rats with7days of silica-contamination, all theway to rats with60days of silica-contamination, the serum and BALF concentrations ofGM-CSF and bFGF ascend gradually, the protein and mRNA expressions of GM-CSF andbFGF of the lung tissue rise as well; the aforementioned changing trends are in good syncwith the development of silicosis and the progression of pulmonary fibrosis as revealed byHE staining.Conclusions:1. The expression of GM-CSF and bFGF is significantly correlated to the progress ofclinical silicosis.2. The expression of GM-CSF and bFGF is highly correlated to the progression ofpulmonary fibrosis induced by silicosis.3. The trachea-unexposed silica-instilled rat silicosis model can accurately mimic theoccurrence and development of silicosis as well as the progression of pulmonary fibrosis.