Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2025.64.01.03

The Effect of Artesunate on Bleomycin‑Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

Aysun Şengul ; Department of Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey
Oğuzhan Okutan ; Department of Pulmonology, Haydarpasa Sultan Abdulhamid Training and Research Hospital, Ministry of Health, Istanbul, Turkey
Bülent Altınsoy ; Department of Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey
Ceyda Anar ; Department of Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey
Onur Yazıcı ; Department of Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey *
Fazilet Dede ; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey
Sibel Köktürk ; Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey
Cüneyt Özer ; Experimental Medical Research Application Center, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey
Osman Fuat Sönmez ; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey
Gökhan Metin ; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Despite new drug alternatives, no curative treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
(IPF) currently exists. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of artesunate on fibrosis, pulmonary
hypertension, and inflammation-related changes in IPF. We divided a total of 32 male Wistar albino rats
into four groups: a control group (group A, n=7), a group receiving artesunate (group B, n=7), a group receiving
bleomycin (group C, n=9), and a group receiving both bleomycin and artesunate (group D, n=9).
Groups A and B received intratracheal saline (0.1 mL), and groups C and D received intratracheal bleomycin
(2.5 mg/kg). Groups A and C received intraperitoneal (i.p.) saline (0.1 mL/day), and groups B
and D received i.p. artesunate (30 mg/kg/day) for 21 days. We measured the rats’ exercise capacity by using
a treadmill. We also examined heart and pulmonary tissues for right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH)
and pulmonary arteriolar wall thickness for fibrosis, respectively. Finally, for immunohistochemistry, we
performed Masson’s trichrome stain and a macrophage marker antibody. The rats’ measured exercise
capacity was 1665 ± 145 m in the control group, 1142 ± 280 m in the group receiving bleomycin, 1490 ±
185 m in the group receiving artesunate, and 1207 ± 231 m in the group receiving both bleomycin and
artesunate. The intergroup difference was statistically significant (p=0.001), but the difference between
the bleomycin + artesunate and bleomycin-only groups was not statistically significant (p=0.95). RVH
was common in the bleomycin group (0.44 ± 0.02). The difference between the bleomycin + artesunate
and bleomycin groups was significant (0.37 ± 0.03). The medial wall of the pulmonary arterioles was
thicker in bleomycin recipients than in artesunate recipients and controls, whereas it was thinner in
bleomycin + artesunate recipients (p<0.001, p=0.026, respectively). Fibrosis and inflammatory changes
improved in the bleomycin + artesunate group (p<0.001). The authors conclude that artesunate improved
fibrosis, inflammatory changes, medial layer thickness of the pulmonary arterioles, and RVH in rats with
bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Keywords

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Bleomycin; Artesunate; Right ventricular hypertrophy

Hrčak ID:

335450

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/335450

Publication date:

31.3.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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