Bleomycin: A pharmacologic tool in the study of the pathogenesis of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis

Bleomycin is a unique DNA-interactive antitumor agent that has become a popular tool in studies of the pathogenesis of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. The biochemical and morphological changes seen in the lungs of many species after bleomycin simulate those seen in humans. The availability of these animal models of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis also provides the opportunity to investigate novel pharmacological approaches to preventing this disease.