Role of SLC15A3 in pulmonary fibrosis

The oligopeptide/histidine transporter SLC15A3 (PHT2) belongs to the solute carrier protein 15 family and is mainly expressed in the membrane of lysosomes and endosomes in monocytes/macrophages. Macrophages are a key immune cell population in the development of pulmonary fibrosis. In order to examine the role of SLC15A3 in pulmonary fibrosis, we build bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model in wild-type (WT) mice and the Slc15a3 knockout(Slc15a3-/-) mice. Overall design: Wild-type (WT) mice and the Slc15a3 knockout(Slc15a3-/-) mice were intratracheally administered BLM (2 mg/kg) in 50 µl normal saline on day 0. Mice administered with the same volume of normal saline served as controls. The mice were euthanized on day 21 following BLM/radiation challenge to analyze pulmonary fibrosis.