Objective To explore whether epithelial to mesenchymal transition ( EMT) occurs in bleomycin( BLM) induced pulmonary fibrosis, and the involvement of bronchial epithelial cells( BECs) in the EMT. Methods BLM-induced peribronchial fibrosis in an α-smooth muscle actin-Cre transgenic mouse( α-SMACre /R26R) was examined by pulmonary βgal staining and α-SMA immunofluorescence staining. Results BLMtreated mice showed significantly enhanced βgal staining in subepithelial areas in bronchi, terminal bronchioles and walls of pulmonary vessels. Some alveolar epithelial cells( AECs) in certain peribronchial areas or even a small subset of BECs were also positively stained, as confirmed by α-SMA immunostaining. Conclusions EMT occurs in BLM-induced peribronchial fibrosis mice. BECs, like AECs, have the capacity to undergo EMT and to contribute to mesenchymal expansion in pulmonary fibrosis.
