Abstract: ObjectiveTo study the influence of CD36 gene suppression induced by RNA interference on transforming growth factor-β₁(L-TGF-β₁) activation derived from bleomycin-treated macrophages in rats.MethodsThe three groups including bleomycin(BLM) group,BLM+Lv-shCD36(a lentiviral vector expressing shRNA specific against rat CD36) group,and BLM+Lv-shCD36-NC(non-silence control lentivirus) group were set for the experiment.The cells in each group were incubated with bleomycin and then collected for detecting the interference effect with real-time PCR and western blot,and the supernatant was collected for detection of TGF-β₁ by CCL-64 mink lung epithelial growth inhibition assay.ResultsThe expression of CD36 mRNA in the Lv-shCD36 group was significantly lower than in the BLM group and control group.Compared to the control group,the efficiency of interference was 83%.The expression of CD36 protein in the Lv-shCD36 group was also lower than in the BLM group and control group.The quantity (91.82±36.79 pg/10μL)and percent (19.80±7.98%)of active TGF-β₁ in the Lv-shCD36 group were significantly lower than those in the BLM group and control group(P<0.05 for all).ConclusionSuppression of the CD36 expression by RNA interference could inhibit the activation of L-TGF-β₁ derived from bleomycin-treated macrophages in rat.