ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the efficacy and mechanism of Qingfei Huatan Tang on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Method:The rat model of COPD was established through smoke inhalation combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and pulmonary compound injection. After successful modeling, the rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, namely the control group, the COPD model group, low, medium and high-dose Qingfei Huatan Tang groups and the ambroxol group. After 28 days of modeling, the drug was administered. Low, medium and high-dose Qingfei Huatan Tang (7.5, 15, 30 g·kg-1) and ambroxol (35 mg·kg-1) were administered continuously for 14 days. Immunohistochemistry and Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) were used to detect protein expression and mRNA expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in pulmonary fibrosis. NCI-H292 cells were induced by LPS to establish a mucus hypersecretion model. The experiment was divided into 8 groups, namely the blank control group, LPS group, LPS+10% fetal bovine serum group, LPS+ physiological serum group, LPS+5% drug serum group, LPS+10% drug serum group, LPS+20% drug serum group and LPS+AG490 group. Immunofluorescence, Western blot and Real-time PCR were used to observe the protein and mRNA expressions of CFTR in NCI-H292 cells after LPS stimulation, and western blot was used to detect the expression of tyrosine kinase 2/transcription factor 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signaling pathway in NCI-H292 cells after LPS stimulation. Result:There were a large number of brown particles around the lumen of lung tissues in the normal group, with increased COPD expression. There were a few brown particles around the lumen of lung tissues in the model group compared with the normal group, with decreased COPD expression. Compared with the normal group, mRNA and protein expressions of CFTR in the lung tissues of the COPD model group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, mRNA and protein expressions of CFTR in the lung tissues of low, medium and high-dose Qingfei Huatan Tang groups (P<0.05). Compared with the blank control group, mRNA and protein expressions of CFTR in NCI-H292 cells of the LPS group (P<0.05), with significant increases in protein expressions of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, 5%, 10%, 20% Qingfei Huatan Tang-containing serum groups showed significant increases in mRNA and protein expressions of CFTR, but with significant decreases in p-JAK2, p-STAT3 protein expressions (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion:Qingfei Huatan Tang up-regulated CFTR in the treatment of COPD by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 pathway.