The role of Tianlongchuankeling in modulation of the ?-smooth muscle actin induced by rhTGF-?_1 and the involved signal transduction / 中国实用内科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the role of Chinese traditional medicine-Tianlongchuankeling in modulation of the transdifferentiation of sub-epithelial fibroblasts into myofibroblasts induced by rhTGF-?1,and the involved mechanism of the signal transduction.Methods Human primary bronchial sub-epithelial fibroblasts(HPBFs)were incubated with either Tianlongchuankeling or its main components of Qingtiankui,Danfuzi and Faxia respectively before being treated with rhTGF-?1(10 ?g/L)for different time.Total protein of cells were collected at different timelapse(10min,30min respectively).Phosphorylated MAPKs for p38,ERK1/2,phosphorylated smad2 and the expression of ?-SMA were detected by using Western blotting.Total RNA was extracted at 20 h and 72 h and subjected to RT-PCR for evaluation of the expression of ?-SMA gene.Results The induction of ?-SMA in HPBFs by TGF-?1 was down-regulated significantly in the cells treated with Tianlongchuankeling or Danfuzi.The phosphorylation of ERK1/2 under TGF-?1 stimulation was inhibited significantly in Tianlongchuankeling and Danfuzi group.No difference of the level in phosphorylation of p-38 and smad2 was found among groups.Conclusion Tianlongchuankeling has the capability to suppress the induction of ?-SMA by TGF-?1 through down-regulation of the phosphorylation of ERK1/2,thereby preventing the transdifferentiation of sub-epithelial fibroblasts into myofibroblasts,which may be responsible for the treatment of airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma.Danfuzi,one of main components of Tianlongchuankeling,may make a major contribution to this process.