Effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on Expression of TGF-β_1/Smad3 in Pulmonary Fibrosis Rats

Objective: To investigate the effects of Buyang Huanwu decoction on pathomorphology and the expression of transforming growth factor-β 1(TGF-β 1) mRNA and Smad3 mRNA in lung tissue of pulmonary fibrosis rats induced by bleomycin(BLM). Method: 144 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups: sham operation(NS) group,model(BLM) group,prednisone(P) group,Buyang Huanwu decoction high-dose,middle-dose,low-dose(A,B,C) group,24 rats in each group. Pulmonary fibrosis model was established by injection of BLM into tracheal intubation,NS group was intratracheally instilled with equal NS. The rats of group A,B,C were given Buyang Huanwu decoction at the dose of 18. 48,9. 24,4. 62 g·kg- 1,the rats of group P were given prednisone at the dose of 4. 2 mg·kg- 1,the rats of group NS and BLM were given NS at the dose of 10 mL·kg- 1. 8 rats in each group were killed respectively on days 7,14,28 after intratracheal instillation. To measure alveolar catarrh and pulmonary fibrosis degrees in left lung dyed with HE and Masson,and TGF-β 1 mRNA,Smad3 mRNA in right lung tissue was assessed by RT-PCR. Result: ①Alveolar catarrh and pulmonary fibrosis degrees in group BLM were significantly higher than group NS(P 0. 01); ② The groups of Buyang Huanwu decoction could improve the alveolar catarrh and pulmonary fibrosis in varying degree by comparison with group BLM(P 0. 01 or P 0. 05); ③At all time points,TGF-β 1,Smad3mRNA expression in group BLM was higher than that in group NS(P 0. 01),on the 7thday the change was significant; ④TGF-β 1,Smad3 mRNA expression of the groups Buyang Huanwu decoction was lower than that in group BLM(P 0. 01 or p 0. 05), TGF-β 1,Smad3 mRNA expression of group B was lower than that in group BLM at all time points(P 0. 01),the levels of that in group C were significant lower than group BLM's on the 14thday and the 28thday(P 0. 01),the levels of group A's were lower than that in group BLM,but the differences were not more obvious on the 7thday than group B and C. Conclusion: Buyang Huanwu decoction could significantly alleviate alveolar catarrh and pulmonary fibrosis,efficiently regulate expression levels of TGF-β 1,Smad3 mRNA in the lung tissues of pulmonary fibrosis rats induced by BLM,the degree of pulmonary fibrosis can be reduced.