Role of Quercetin on Inhibiting TGF-β1 and TNF-α in Lung of Rats with Silicosis

-Silicosis, characterized by many cytokines expression, especially TNF-α and TGF-β1, is the most prevalent occupational disease world-wide. Here we examined whether quercetin can regulate expressios of TGF-β1 and TNF-α in lung of rats with silicosis. Totally 75 male Wistar rats, were randomly divided into three groups: group control, group model and group quercetin, (n=25). SiO2 powders were douched in the trachea of rat to make the silicotic model. TGF-β1 and TNF-α were measured by immunohistochemica and ELISA. The results revealed that the contents of TNF-α and TGF-β1 in group model on all the time points were higher than the others, quercetin decreased the expressions of TNF-α and TGF-β1. The current study results further suggest that quercetin may have therapeutic efficacy in treatment of silicosis of the lung.