Hydrogen therapy promotes macrophage polarization to the M2 subtype in radiation lung injury by inhibiting the NF-κB signalling pathway
Xue Gao,
Shiying Niu,
Lulu Li,
Xiaoyue Zhang,
Xuetao Cao,
Xinhui Zhang,
Wentao Pan,
Meili Sun,
Guoli Zhao,
Xuezhen Zheng,
Guohua Song,
Yueying Zhang
Affiliations
Xue Gao
Department of Pathophysiology, School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, China; Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, China
Shiying Niu
Department of Pathophysiology, School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, China; Department of Pathology, Linfen Central Hospital, China
Lulu Li
Department of Pathophysiology, School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, China
Xiaoyue Zhang
Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, China
Xuetao Cao
Department of Pathophysiology, School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, China
Xinhui Zhang
Department of Pathophysiology, School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, China; Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, China
Wentao Pan
Department of Pathophysiology, School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, China
Meili Sun
Department of Pathology, Linfen Central Hospital, China; Department of Oncology, Affiliated Central Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, China
Guoli Zhao
Department of Pathology, Liaocheng Infectious Disease Hospital, China
Xuezhen Zheng
Department of Pathophysiology, School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, China; Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, China
Guohua Song
Department of Pathophysiology, School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, China; Corresponding author. Department of Pathophysiology, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, China.
Yueying Zhang
Department of Pathophysiology, School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, China; Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, China; Corresponding author. Tumor Pathology, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, China.
Background: Radiotherapy has become a standard treatment for chest tumors, but a common complication of radiotherapy is radiation lung injury. Currently, there is still a lack of effective treatment for radiation lung injury. Methods: A mouse model of radioactive lung injury (RILI) was constructed and then treated with different cycles of hydrogen inhalation. Lung function tests were performed to detect changes in lung function.HE staining was used to detect pathological changes in lung tissue. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the polarization of macrophages in lung tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect changes in cytokine expression in lung tissues. Western Blot was used to detect the expression of proteins related to the NF-κB signalling pathway. Results: Lung function test results showed that lung function decreased in the model group and improved in the treatment group.HE staining showed that inflammatory response was evident in the model group and decreased in the treatment group. Immunohistochemistry results showed that the expression of pro-inflammatory factors was significantly higher in the model group, and the expression of pro-inflammatory factors was significantly higher in the treatment group. The expression of pro-inflammatory factors in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the model group, and the expression of anti-inflammatory factors in the treatment group was higher than that in the model group. Immunofluorescence showed that the expression of M1 subtype macrophages was up-regulated in the model group and down-regulated in the treatment group. The expression of M2 subtype macrophages was up-regulated in the treatment group relative to the model group. Western Blot showed that P–NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 was significantly increased in the model group, and P–NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 was decreased in the treatment group. Conclusion: Hydrogen therapy promotes macrophage polarization from M1 to M2 subtypes by inhibiting the NF-κB signalling pathway, thereby attenuating the inflammatory response to radiation lung injury.
