The effect of different drugs on hard metal lung disease in a rat model.

Abstract

Hard metal lung disease (HMLD) drugs include dexamethasone sodium phosphate (Dex), methylprednisolone (MP) injection, N-acetylcysteine injection (NAC), and a mix of Dex, MP, and NAC (MIX). In this study, we compared the effects of these drugs on different cytokines of hard metal lung disease in a rat model. Thirty-six adult female Sprague Dawley rats were distributed equally into the control group, hard metal (HM) group, Dex group, MP group, NAC group, and MIX group. HM powder (0.5mL, 20mg/mL; one time) was administered by intraperitoneal injection to the HM group through the pulmonary endotracheal tube, while the control group received normal saline (0.5mL, 20mg/mL; one time). After 4 weeks, the drugs were administered to the experimental groups (0.5mL, 20mg/mL; one time). After 8 weeks, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum were examined for cytokine levels. Biochemical analysis indicated that the Dex, MP, NAC, and MIX did not improve TGF-β1, TGF-β2, KL-6, and MMP-1 in the BALF, while MIX increased TIMP-1 in BALF. In addition, the NAC treatment significantly increased the expression levels of TGF-β1, TGF-β2, KL-6, and MMP-1. The MIX treatment significantly increased the expression levels of TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and KL-6. The MP treatment significantly increased the expression levels of KL-6, and MMP-1. The Dex treatment significantly increased the expression levels of TGF-β1, KL-6, and MMP-1. This study demonstrated that administered with NAC and MIX could improve TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and KL-6 in serum of hard metal lung disease in a rat model. Therefore, NAC injection may be considered a useful candidate in the development of a preventive agent against HMLD.