Role of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3a in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

The expression of eIF3a significantly increased in the lungs of rats with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

• Pulmonary fibrosis was induced in rats using bleomycin (5mg/kg).
• Increased eIF3a expression was associated with elevated levels of α-SMA and collagens in the lungs.
• TGF-β1 treatment led to enhanced proliferation and differentiation of pulmonary fibroblasts, along with increased eIF3a expression and activation of ERK1/2.
• Silencing eIF3a with siRNA abolished the TGF-β1-induced proliferation and α-SMA up-regulation in fibroblasts.
• The TGF-β1-induced increase in eIF3a expression was reversed by the ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059.

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