Inhibition airway remodeling and transforming growth factor-β1/Smad             signaling pathway by astragalus extract in asthmatic mice.
Airway remodeling is characterized by airway wall thickening, subepithelial ﬁbrosis, increased smooth muscle mass, angiogenesis and increased mucous glands, which can lead to a chronic and obstinate asthma with pulmonary function depression. In the present study, we investigated whether the astragalus extract inhibits airway remodeling in a mouse asthma model and observed the effects of astragalus extract on the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling pathway in ovalbumin-sensitized mice. Mice were sensitized and challenged by ovalbumin to establish a model of asthma. Treatments included the astragalus extract and budesonide. Lung tissues were obtained for hematoxylin and eosin staining and Periodic acid-Schiff staining after the ﬁnal ovalbumin challenge. Levels of TGF-β1 were assessed by immunohistology and ELISA, levels of TGF-β1 mRNA were measured by RT-PCR, and levels of P-Smad2/3 and T-Smad2/3 were assessed by western blotting. Astragalus extract and budesonide reduced allergen-induced increases in the thickness of bronchial airway and mucous gland hypertrophy, goblet cell hyperplasia and collagen deposition. Levels of lung TGF-β1, TGF-β1 mRNA and P-Smad2/3 were signiﬁcantly reduced in mice treated with astragalus extract and budesonide. Astragalus extract improved asthma airway remodeling by inhibiting the expression of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway, and may be a potential drug for the treatment of patients with a severe asthma airway.
Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, PR China. quzhenghai@163.com
Zheng-Hai
ZH
Qu
Zhao-Chuan
ZC
Yang
Lei
L
Chen
Zhi-Dong
ZD
Lv
Ming-Ji
MJ
Yi
Ni
N
Ran
D056151:Airway Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D019819:Budesonide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051896:Smad Proteins, Receptor-Regulated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000485:Allergens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051896:Smad Proteins, Receptor-Regulated; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D019819:Budesonide; D010047:Ovalbumin