Shenqi Chongcao Formula ameliorates inflammatory response in rats with pulmonary fibrosis by activating the ASS1/src/STAT3 signaling pathway
10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2024.04.04
- VernacularTitle:参七虫草方通过ASS1/src/STAT3信号通路改善肺纤维化大鼠的炎症反应
- Author:
Cheng HE
1
;
Wei CHEN
;
Nianzhi ZHANG
;
Jun LUAN
;
Sanfeng WANG
;
You ZHANG
Author Information
1. 安徽中医药大学第一附属医院呼吸科,安徽 合肥 230031
- Keywords:
Shenqi Chongcao Formula;
arginine;
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis;
ASS1/src/STAT3 signaling pathway;
inflammatory response
- From:
Journal of Southern Medical University
2024;44(4):644-651
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To observe the effect of Shenqi Chongcao (SQCC) Formula on the ASS1/src/STAT3 signaling pathway in a rat model of lung fibrosis and explore its therapeutic mechanism. Methods A total of 120 male SD rats were divided equally into 5 groups, including a blank control group with saline treatment and 4 groups of rat models of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis induced by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. One day after modeling, the rat models were treated with daily gavage of 10 mL/kg saline, SQCC decoction (0.423 g/kg), pirfenidone (10 mL/kg), or intraperitoneal injection of arginine deiminase (ADI; 2.25 mg/kg, every 3 days) for 28 days. After the treatments, the lung tissues of the rats were collected for calculating the lung/body weight ratio, observing histopathology using HE and Masson staining, and analyzing the inflammatory cells in BALF using Giemsa staining. Serum chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) levels were measured with ELISA. The protein expressions of src, p-srcTry529, STAT3, and p-STAT3Try705 and the mRNA expressions of ASS1, src and STAT3 in the lung tissues were detected using Western blotting and RT-qPCR. Results The neutrophil, macrophage and lymphocyte counts and serum levels of CCL2 and TGF-β1 were significantly lower in SQCC, pirfenidone and ADI treatment groups than in the model group at each time point of measurement (P<0.05). P-srcTry529 and p-STAT3Try705 protein expression levels and ASS1, src, and STAT3 mRNA in the lung tissues were also significantly lower in the 3 treatment groups than in the model group (P<0.05). Conclusion SQCC Formula can alleviate lung fibrosis in rats possibly by activating the ASS1/src/STAT3 signaling pathway in the lung tissues.
