ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the influence of salvianolic acid B on the expressions of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway related proteins in human lung fibroblasts,and to explore the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of Sal B on TGF-β1-induced lung fibroblast activation.Methods The human embryonic lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into control group ( the cells were cultured with DMEM without TGF-β1 or Sal B),Sal B group (the cells were cultured with 10μmol·L-1 Sal B),TGF-β1 group (the cells were cultured with 10μg·L-1 TGF-β1),and TGF-β1 (10μg·L-1 )+ Sal B (10μmol·L-1 )group.The protein levels of p-Smad2,p-Smad3,TβRⅠ,and Smad7 in the fibroblasts in various groups were detected by Western blotting method.Results Compared with control group,the expression levels of p-Smad2,p-Smad3,and TβRⅠproteins in TGF-β1 group were significantly increased (P0.05).Compared with TGF-β1 group,the expression levels of p-Smad2,p-Smad3,and TβRⅠ in TGF-β1+ Sal B group were descended (P<0.05),and the expression level of Smad7 was increased (P<0.05).Conclusion Sal B could suppress the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in lung fibroblasts and to inhibit the TGF-β1-induced lung fibroblast activation.