Comparison of in-vivo anti-fibrotic effects of pirfenidone and nintedanib in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model

Abstract

Background: Pirfenidone(PFD) and nintedanib(NDN), the only two drugs for IPF, which should be accurately selected in treatment, has no relevant basic research for reference. Objective: Compare the effect of PFD and NDN in bleomycin(BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis model of different periods, so as to provide theoretical basis for clinical application. Methods: The BLM model of different periods were performed in Fig1. Results: 1) Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity: The inhibition rate of NDN on inflammatory cell numbers was higher than that of PFD, while PFD has better inhibitory effect on IL-1β and IL-4 and NDN has higher inhibitory rate on IL-6 and IFN-γ. The activity of SOD in PFD group was higher than that of NDN group, while the content of MDA in lung tissues and the concentration of MPO in serum were significantly lower in NDN group than of PFD group. 2) Anti-fibrosis capacity: In prevention model, hydroxyproline content in PFD group was 140.29±3.59μg/right lung and NDN group was 162.87±2.91μg/right lung. In treatment models, HYP content was much less in NDN group than in PFD group. Pathological change was consistent with the HYP results. Conclusion: Both PFD and NDN have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects and selectively suppressed different biomarkers. PFD is more effective in the prophylactic model of fibrosis, while NDN has a better effect in early and late treatment models.