Role of Bcl-xL in hepatocyte growth factor-elicited epithelial protection in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a cytokine with pleiotropic functions during wound healing and repair. Its anti-fibrotic effects were shown in animal models of lung fibrosis and linked to improved cellular survival and proliferation and reduced myofibroblast accumulation. HGF-elicited, pro-survival pathways have yet not been investigated in detail in lung epithelial cells. Based on literature, our study is focused on Bcl-xL, pro-survival protein involved in mitochondrial control of apoptosis. Analysis of IPF lung homogenates revealed significantly increased expression of Bcl-xL when compared to donor lungs. In…