Incidence of Pulmonary Fibrosis in Lungs of CUX-1 Transgenic Mice

CUX-1 is a transcriptional repressor gene and part of the network controlling G1-S phase transition by repressing the cyclin-kinase inhibitors p21 and p27. CUX-1 transgenic mice develop polycystic kidneys, reduced spermatogenesis, and liver fibrosis as a consequence of aberrant repression of p27. We reported that these mice also show severe pulmonary inflammation with vasculitis, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and diffuse presence of fibroblasts. This study reports the presence of collagen using Image J software (NIH program) on slides of lungs of CUX-1 mice stained by trichrome. Wild type mice were used as controls. An average of seven photographs at 400x magnification were taken on the lungs of each mouse. Collagen presence and intensity was 17.06% in lungs of CUX-1 mice versus 8.73% the wild type mice (p<0.05). Fibrosis was mostly evident in the basal membrane and musculature of the ectasic bronchi and the peribronchial arteries. CUX-1 mice also showed medial thickening, reduced lumen patency (64% versus ...