Serpina3n is closely associated with fibrotic procession and knockdown ameliorates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal interstitial lung disease that is characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and remodeling of lung. The precise mechanisms underlying pulmonary fibrosis still remain unclear. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the alteration and function of serine (or cysteine) peptidase inhibitor, clade A, member 3 N (Serpina3n) in pulmonary fibrotic models and explore the potential mechanisms. We induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice by silica and bleomycin respectively and determined Serpina3n in lung tissues, and then verified the expression of Serpina3n and its correlation with pulmonary fibrosis at seven time points in a bleomycin longstanding model. Moreover, adeno-associated virus type 9 (AAV9)-mediated Serpina3n knockdown was used to treat pulmonary fibrosis in the bleomycin model, whose possible mechanisms would be preliminarily explored by detecting chymotrypsin C as an example. Serpina3n was up-regulated significantly in lungs of both models at mRNA and protein levels relative to control. Notably, the expression of Serpina3n peaked during the 3rd week and then decreased until nearly normal levels during the 10th week, which was closely related to fibrotic procession in bleomycin-treated mice. AAV-mediated Serpina3n knockdown in the lung tissues alleviated bleomycin-induced fibrotic symptoms at various levels and disinhibit chymotrypsin C. Our study revealed that Serpina3n is a critical regulator in pulmonary fibrosis and suggested Serpina3n inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy in chronic pulmonary injuries.