Expression and location of heme oxygenase in the lung of experimental cirrhotic rats / 中华肝脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To observe the function of heme oxygenase (HO) in the lung damage in hepatic cirrhosis rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Liver cirrhosis model rats were made by CCl4. Lung samples taken from normal and cirrhotic rats were examined for HO-1 and HO-2 protein and expression distribution with immunohistochemical staining and western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Liver cirrhosis model rats were successfully constructed. There was a notable increase of HO-1 staining (0.062+/-0.021 vs 0.185+/-0.044, t=11.24, P<0.01) and protein expression (0 vs 5294.92+/-46.02, t=11.45, P<0.01) in both vascular and bronchial smooth muscle cells and endothelium in cirrhotic rats, however, no statistical difference of HO-2 between cirrhotic and normal rats was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The HO-CO pathway is probably involved in the pathogenesis of lung damage in hepatic cirrhosis rats.</p>