Effect of bone morphogenic protein-7 on the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in silicosis model

This study presented the effect of bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7) inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in silicosis model. In vivo, Wistar rats were exposed to silica by intratracheal instillation. Seven days later rats were treated with BMP-7. Rats were sacrificed at 15 and 30 days after exposure of silica. The results demonstrated vimentin expression was down-regulated; and E-cadherin was up-regulated after intervention with BMP-7. The TGF-β expression and phosphorylation-p38 were lower in BMP-7 treated group than in silica group. In vitro, p38 MAPK/Snail signaling pathway was involved in the occurrence of EMT in A549 cells treated by silica. EMT was inhibited by BMP-7. The data showed BMP-7 inhibited EMT induced by silica associated with inhibition of p38 MAPK/Snail pathway.