Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a key mediator of collagen synthesis in the development of lung fibrosis. It has previously been shown that the administration of TGF-β antibody and TGF-β binding proteoglycan, decorin, reduced bleomycin (BL) induced lung fibrosis in animals. The present study was carried out to investigate whether intratracheal instillation of TGF-β soluble receptor (TR) would minimise the BL induced lung fibrosis in hamsters.

The effect of a recombinant TR (TGFβRII) on the lung collagen accumulation was evaluated in a BL hamster model of pulmonary fibrosis. Animals were divided into four groups and intratracheally injected with saline or BL at 6.5 U/4 ml/kg followed by intratracheal instillation of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or 4 nmol TR in 0.3 ml twice a week. Twenty days after the first intratracheal instillation the hamsters were killed for bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, biochemical, and histopathological analyses.

Treatment of hamsters with TR after intratracheal instillation of BL significantly reduced BL induced lung fibrosis as shown by decreases in the lung hydroxyproline level and prolyl hydroxylase activity, although they were still significantly higher than those of the saline control. Histopathological examination showed a considerable decrease in BL induced fibrotic lesions by TR treatment. However, TR did not prevent the BL induced increases in total cells and protein in the BAL fluid.

These results suggest that TR has antifibrotic potential in vivo and may be useful in the treatment of fibrotic diseases where increased TGF-β is associated with excess collagen accumulation.