Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39478545›Full record

ArticleRespiratory research2024

Quantitative micro-CT-derived biomarkers elucidate age-related lung fibrosis in elder mice.

Davide Buseghin, Andrea Grandi, Erica Ferrini, Gino Villetti, Roberta Ciccimarra, Nicola Sverzellati, Andrea Aliverti, Francesca Pennati, Franco Fabio Stellari

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Respiratory research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Davide Buseghin *Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy.
Andrea Grandi *Experimental Pharmacology & Translational Science Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.P.A, Parma, Italy.
Erica FerriniANTHEM (AdvaNced Technologies for Human-centrEd Medicine), Spoke 3, Milan, Italy.
Gino VillettiExperimental Pharmacology & Translational Science Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.P.A, Parma, Italy.
Roberta CiccimarraDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Nicola SverzellatiDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Andrea AlivertiDipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy.
Francesca PennatiDipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy. francesca.pennati@polimi.it.
Franco Fabio StellariExperimental Pharmacology & Translational Science Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.P.A, Parma, Italy. fb.stellari@chiesi.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIdiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), prevalently affecting individuals over 60 years of age, has been mainly studied in young mouse models. The limited efficacy of current treatments underscores the need for animal models that better mimic an aged patient population. We addressed this by inducing pulmonary fibrosis in aged mice, using longitudinal micro-CT imaging as primary readout, with special attention to animal welfare.

methodsA double bleomycin dose was administered to 18-24 months-old male C57Bl/6j mice to induce pulmonary fibrosis. Bleomycin dosage was reduced to as low as 75% compared to that commonly administered to young (8-12 weeks-old) mice, resulting in long-term lung fibrosis without mortality, complying with animal welfare guidelines. After fibrosis induction, animals received Nintedanib once-daily for two weeks and longitudinally monitored by micro-CT, which provided structural and functional biomarkers, followed by post-mortem histological analysis as terminal endpoint.

resultsCompared to young mice, aged animals displayed increased volume, reduced tissue density and function, and marked inflammation. This increased vulnerability imposed a bleomycin dosage reduction to the lowest tested level (2.5 µg/mouse), inducing a milder, yet persistent, fibrosis, while preserving animal welfare. Nintedanib treatment reduced fibrotic lesions and improved pulmonary function.

conclusionsOur data identify a downsized bleomycin treatment that allows to achieve the best trade-off between fibrosis induction and animal welfare, a requirement for antifibrotic drug testing in aged lungs. Nintedanib displayed significant efficacy in this lower-severity disease model, suggesting potential patient stratification strategies. Lung pathology was quantitatively assessed by micro-CT, pointing to the value of longitudinal endpoints in clinical trials.

Indexed as

AgingBiomarkersBleomycinMice, Inbred C57BLX-Ray MicrotomographyAge FactorsAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalIdiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisIndolesLungMaleMicePulmonary FibrosisBiomarkersBleomycinIndolesnintedanibAgeBleomycin modelIPFLung fibrosisMicro-computed tomographyNintedanib

Identifiers

PMID39478545
PMCPMC11526612

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.