Role of Insulin-like Growth Factor II Receptor in Transdifferentiation of Free Silica-induced Primary Rat Lung Fibroblasts

ObjectiveTo study the role of insulin-like growth factor II receptor in free silica-induced transdifferentiation of primary rat lung fibroblastsMethodsRat lung fibroblasts and rat alveolar macrophages were cultured. A transdifferentiation model of primary rat lung fibroblasts was induced by free silica. Levels of α-SMA protein, IGF-IIR protein and mRNA were measured by immunocytochemistry, Western blot and RT-PCR, respectively. Lung fibroblasts were treated with Wortmannin.ResultsThe expression levels of α-SMA and IGF-IIR increased with the increasing free silica concentration and decreased after Wortmannin was used.ConclusionThe IGF-IIR plays an important role in free silica-induced transdifferentiation of primary rat lung fibroblasts.