Cell Division Cycle 2 Protects Neonatal Rats Against Hyperoxia-Induced Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

PURPOSE: Hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a lung disease in preterm infants. We aimed to explore the role of cell division cycle 2 (CDC2) on histopathologic changes of lung tissues, as well as the viability, apoptosis, and inflammation of lung cells in rats with hyperoxia-induced BPD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hyperoxia-induced BPD in neonatal rats and hyperoxia-induced A549 cells were constructed. The mRNA expression of CDC2 was detected by qRT-PCR. The fibrosis score of lung tissues was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The viability and apoptosis of A549 cells were detected by cell counting kit-8 assay and flow cytometry. The protein expressions of bcl-2, bax, and caspase-3 were measured by western blot. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β in A549 cells were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The pcDNA3.1-CDC2 was injected into rats to determine the role of CDC2 in hyperoxia-induced BPD in vivo. RESULTS: The expression of CDC2 was decreased in lung tissues of neonatal rats with hyperoxia-induced BPD and hyperoxia-induced A549 cells. The fibrosis score was increased in the lung tissues of neonatal rats with hyperoxia-induced BPD. Overexpression of CDC2 increased the viability and protein expression of bcl-2; and inhibited the apoptosis, inflammation, and protein expression of bax and caspase-3 in hyperoxia-induced A549 cells. Up-regulation of CDC2 alleviated the histopathologic changes in lung tissues of neonatal rats with hyperoxia-induced BPD. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of CDC2 promoted the viability and inhibited the apoptosis and inflammation of hyperoxia-induced cells, and alleviated the histopathologic changes of lung tissues in neonatal rats with hyperoxia-induced BPD.