Maria Khezri, Reza Rahbarghazi, Mahdi Ahmadi, Siamak Sandoghchian, Alireza Nourazarian, Behrouz Shademan, Meysam Abdi, Fatemeh Khaki-Khatibi
Extensive vascularity and large amounts of collagen and elastin in the lung tissue makes the lung parenchyma vulnerable to diabetes. However, there are few studies on the pathophysiological effects of diabetes on lung tissue. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the impacts of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) on lung tissue pathology and the expression of miRNA-155 and miRNA-133a in the lung tissue of male rats. In this study, 20 male rats were divided into a control group and a diabetic group. The diabetic group received a high-fat diet for four weeks. After the fourth week, the rats were injected with a single dose of Streptozotocin (STZ). Blood glucose and Glucose Tolerance Tests (GTT) were measured four days after the STZ injection; immediately after testing, rats were sacrificed, and lung tissue was collected to measure microRNA (miRNA) and examine tissue changes. When lung tissue sections from diabetic rats were examined, the normal structure of alveoli, alveolar sacs, and bronchioles was disrupted. The extensive alveolar collapse was the leading cause of lung tissue structure disruption, and the accumulation of inflammatory cells and exudate secretions resulted in an interstitial pneumonia-like appearance. The expression of miRNA-155 was increased, and the expression of miRNA-133a was decreased in the lungs of diabetic rats compared with control rats. We found significant changes in the lung tissue of diabetic rats. These miRNAs can be used as diagnostic biomarkers for lung injury in diabetic patients. In addition, the changes in these miRNAs may provide therapeutic strategies.