Effect of Astragali-Cordyceps Mixtura on TGF-beta/Smad signal pathway in the lung of asthma airway remodeling.
OBJECTIVE
We try to find out the influence of traditional Chinese Medicine Astragali-Cordyceps Mixtura (ACM) on TGF-beta/Smad signal pathway in the lung of asthma airway remodeling.


METHODS
Mice were sensitized and challenged by OVA to establish a model of asthma. To assess the effects of ACM on the mice, animals of the ACM groups were treated with ACM. Data were achieved by using techniques as follow: counting cell number of BALF, assaying the amount of collagen deposition by Masson's staining, performing RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry for mRNA and protein expression of TGF-beta1, Smad3 and Smad7.


RESULTS
The depositions of collagen in airway wall greatly increased at the model group compared with that of the normal group. In contrast, these decreased at the ACM groups. As compared with the control group, TGF-beta1 expression also decreased at both mRNA and protein level at the ACM-M group versus increased both at the model group. Whereas, Smad7 significantly decreased only at the model group and partly restored at the ACM-M group.


CONCLUSIONS
ACM greatly improves the symptoms of asthma airway remodeling by inhibiting the expression of TGF-beta1 and upregulating the amount of Smad7.
Gao
Gui-xin
GX
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Hospital of Medical School of Zhejiang University, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Li
Qing-mei
QM
Shen
Hua-hao
HH
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D001483:Base Sequence; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry*; D017931:DNA Primers; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D051906:Smad7 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D017931:DNA Primers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D051906:Smad7 Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta