Pulmonary expression levels of fibroblast growth factor receptors and lung fibrosis in mice at different ages / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation of pulmonary expressions of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR1-4) with lung fibrosis and aging.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression levels of FGFR1-4 in the lung tissues, and lung fibrosis was observed by HE and Masson staining in mice at different ages.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 4 subtypes of FGFR showed different expression levels in the lung tissues of mice, and FGFR2 had the highest expressions. The expression levels of all the 4 FGFR subtypes in 8-month-old mice were significantly lower than those in 5-week-old mice. The 8-month-old mice tended to present with histological changes of lung fibrosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>FGFR expressions is down-regulated with aging in mice. Among the FGFR subtypes, FGFR2 is expressed at the highest level. The occurrence of lung fibrosis with aging is probably associated with down-regulated FGFR expression. FGF/FGFR signaling may participate in the aging process and regulation of lung fibrosis.</p>