title: Total glucosides of Danggui Buxue Tang attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis via inhibition of extracellular matrix remodelling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to investigate the antifibrosis effects and possible mechanism of action of total glucosides of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBTG) on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  DBTG was extracted from Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis. Pulmonary fibrosis was induced by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (5 mg/kg) in Wistar rats. Subsequently, the rats received daily intragastric administration of DBTG (16, 32 or 64 mg/kg per day) or cortisone (3 mg/kg) 1 day after bleomycin instillation for 4 weeks. Histological changes in the lung were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. Markers of fibrosis in serum were determined by radioimmunoassay. The mRNA expression of metalloproteinases 1 and 9 (MMP-1, MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) in lung tissue were detected by reverse transcription PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DBTG administration attenuated the degree of alveolitis and lung fibrosis, and markedly reduced the elevated levels of hyaluronic acid, laminin, type III procollagen and type IV collagen in serum. DBTG decreased the mRNA levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1. MMP-1 expression was only moderately decreased by DBTG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DBTG had an inhibitory effect on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and its effect may be associated with the ability of DBTG to inhibit the synthesis of extracellular matrix and balance the MMP/TIMP-1 system.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Preparation Section, Third-Grade Pharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine-TCM-2009-202, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China. gaojianayfy@163.com
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Li-Jie
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Du-Juan
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D029971:Angelica sinensis; D000818:Animals; D027883:Astragalus Plant; D001761:Bleomycin; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000097:blood; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000097:blood; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007797:Laminin / Q000097:blood; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018517:Plant Roots; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D024061:Collagen Type III; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005960:Glucosides; D007797:Laminin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; C477279:danggui buxue decoction; D001761:Bleomycin; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1