Relative role of hepatocyte growth factor in mediating epithelial cell-protective effects in lung fibrosis – a role of Bcl-xL induction

Einleitung: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a cytokine with pleiotropic functions during wound healing and repair. Anti-fibrotic effects have been shown in animal models of lung fibrosis and may be mediated via multiple direct and indirect mechanisms, including promoting endothelial and epithelial cell survival and proliferation and reduction of myofibroblast accumulation. In liver and kidney epithelial cells the increased expression of Bcl-xL protein has been suggested as an important anti-apoptotic mechanism, but it remains to be elucidated in the lung. Methoden: Main goals of this study are to characterize…