高温高湿煤尘环境致小鼠肺损伤及枸杞红素的干预作用研究OA

OBJECTIVE:To investigate relationships between lung damage induced by exposure to high temperature and humidity coal dust in mice and related members of the matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)family,and to evaluate intervention of a plant natural product zeaxanthin dipalmitate(ZD).METHODS:Ninety-six 6-8 week-old SPF-grade male ICR mice were randomly divided into 8 groups(12 per group).Two relatively independent experiments were designed:a mouse lung injury experiment,including a control group,a coal dust group,a high temperature and humidity group,and a high temperature and humidity coal dust group;and a ZD intervention experiment,including a control group,a high temperature and humidity coal dust group,a high temperature and humidity coal dust+ZD group,and a ZD group.In the former,pathological damage to mouse lung tissue was detected by HE and Masson staining;expression levels of related members of the MMP family were determined by RT-qPCR,ELISA,Western blot,and IHC.In the latter,in addition to the above experimental methods,ultrastructure of type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy(TEM).RESULTS:In the mouse lung injury experiment,HE staining showed that,compared with the control group,different degrees of inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in the three experimental groups.Masson staining revealed mild collagen fiber deposition in all three experimental groups.RT-qPCR,ELISA,Western blot,and IHC results showed that,compared with the control group,mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP-2/3/8 were significantly increased in all three experimental groups(P<0.05).In the ZD intervention experiment,TEM observation showed that,compared with the control group,alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells in the high-temperature and high-humidity coal dust group were significantly damaged,with impaired microvilli structure and decreased clarity.After ZD intervention,the above-mentioned pathological damage effects were improved,and the mRNA and protein expression of MMP-2/3/8 were significantly decreased.CONCLUSION:Exposure to high-temperature and high-humidity coal dust caused inflammatory damage to the lungs of mice.A mechanism might be related to upregulation of expression of MMP family members,and ZD might reduce pathological damage of lung tissue by inhibiting MMP expression.