Ching-Huei Lin, Mei-Lin Shen, Shung-Te Kao, Dong Chuan Wu
Airway fibrosis, which is a crucial pathological condition occurring in various types of pulmonary disorders, is characterized by accumulation and activation of fibroblast cells, deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, and increase of airway basement membrane. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) is the principal profibrogenic cytokine that is responsible for fibrotic responses. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the antifibrotic effects of the natural polyphenolic compound, sesamin, on TGF-β1-induced fibroblast proliferation and activation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway fibrosis in vivo...
September 2014: International Immunopharmacology