目的 探讨胰岛素样生长因子Ⅰ (IGF-Ⅰ)/细胞外信号调节激酶(ERK)通路在肺纤维化中的作用及可能机制.方法 以肺泡上皮细胞A549为研究对象.酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)法检测0、50、100 ng/ml IGF-Ⅰ对细胞培养上清液中基质金属蛋白酶(MMP)-2、MMP-9浓度的影响;用ERK特异抑制剂对IGF-Ⅰ诱导细胞MMP-2和MMP-9的表达进行阻断实验,分3组:空白对照组(未加IGF-Ⅰ刺激组)、IGF-Ⅰ刺激组、ERK抑制剂+IGF-Ⅰ刺激组.Western印迹法检测各组细胞中ERK的磷酸化(p-ERK)情况.分别用实时荧光定量PCR法和ELISA法检测各组细胞MMP-2和MMP-9的mRNA水平和上清液中的蛋白浓度.结果 相对于0 ng/ml IGF-Ⅰ组,50、100 ng/ml IGF-Ⅰ可上调肺泡上皮细胞培养上清液中MMP-2和MMP-9的浓度[(18.30±0.11、21.80±0.09)比(13.52 ±0.19)ng/ml和(0.34±0.叭、0.39±0.01)比(0.25±0.01) ng/ml,均P<0.001],且100 ng/ml IGF-Ⅰ组中二者浓度均高于50 ng/ml IGF-Ⅰ组(均P<0.01);IGF-Ⅰ刺激组中p-ERK1/2蛋白的相对表达量高于空白对照组(0.40±0.01比0.23±0.02,P<0.05),ERK抑制剂+IGF-l刺激组中p-ERK1/2蛋白相对表达量低于IGF-Ⅰ刺激组(0.14±0.03比0.40±0.01,P<0.01);相对于IGF-Ⅰ刺激组,ERK抑制剂+ IGF-Ⅰ刺激组抑制了MMP-2和MMP-9的mRNA水平(0.88±0.03比1.17±0.05和0.82±0.23比1.81 ±0.27,P<0.05)和降低了细胞培养上清液中MMP-2和MMP-9的蛋白浓度[(21.70±0.32)比(29.15±0.34)ng/ml和(0.22±0.01)比(0.29±0.01) ng/ml,均P<0.01].结论 IGF-Ⅰ可能是通过活化ERK信号通路上调肺泡上皮细胞MMP-2和MMP-9的表达,从而导致肺泡基底膜被破坏,最终促进了肺纤维化的发生.
Objective To explore the role and underlying mechanisms of insulin-like growth factor Ⅰ (IGF-Ⅰ)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in lung fibrosis.Methods Alveolar epithelial cell A549 was used.The expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in A549 culture media stimulated by IGF-Ⅰ were determined by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ERK inhibitor U0126 was used.And there were three groups of control,IGF-Ⅰ stimulation and RK inhibitor plus IGF-Ⅰ stimulation.The activity of ERK in three groups was measured by Western blot.The mRNA level and protein concentration of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in three groups were examined by quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and ELISA.Results The protein concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in cell culture media increased in 50,100 ng/ml IGF-Ⅰ groups as compared with 0 ng/ml IGF-Ⅰ group ((18.30 ± 0.11),(21.80 ± 0.09) vs (13.52 ± 0.19) ng/ml and (0.34 ±0.01),(0.39 ±0.01) vs (0.25 ±0.01) ng/ml,P 〈0.001).And the protein concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in 100 ng/ml IGF-Ⅰ group increased versus 50 ng/ml IGF-Ⅰ group (P 〈0.01).IGF-Ⅰ stimulation group increased the expression of p-ERK1/2 versus control group (0.40 ±0.01 vs 0.23 ± 0.02,P 〈 0.05) while ERK inhibitor plus IGF-Ⅰ stimulation group decreased the expression of p-ERK1/2 versus IGF-Ⅰ stimulation group (0.14 ±0.03 vs 0.40 ±0.01,P 〈0.01).ERK inhibitor plus IGF-Ⅰ stimulation group inhibited the mRNA levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 versus IGF-Ⅰ stimulation group (0.88 ± 0.03 vs 1.17±0.05 and 0.82 ± 0.23 vs 1.81 ±0.27,both P 〈0.05) and decreased the concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in culture media versus IGF-Ⅰ stimulation group ((21.70 ± 0.32) vs (29.15 ± 0.34) ng/ml and (0.22±0.01) vs (0.29 ±0.01) ng/ml,both P 〈0.01).Conclusions IGF-Ⅰ induces the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in alveolar epithelial