title: [Down-regulation of expression of α- smooth muscle actin in airway smooth muscle cells by allicin and its mechanisms].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of allicin on the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC), and to evaluate the mechanism of allicin on inhibition of airway remodeling.
  
  
  METHODS
  The human ASMCs were treated for 48 hours with 0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 μmol/L allicin, respectively, and the total RNA and protein of the cells were collected. The mRNA expression of α-SMA was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The protein expression of α-SMA and phosphorylation Smad1 (p-Smad1) were assessed by Western blotting analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the treatment with allicin for 48 hours in a dose of 0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 μmol/L respectively, the mRNA expression of α-SMA was down-regulated (0.543±0.121, 0.354±0.072, 0.223±0.058, and 0.191±0.034, respectively), with statistically significant difference among groups (all P<0.05), and the protein expression of α-SMA and p-Smad1 was also gradually down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner [α-SMA protein (grad value ratio): 0.96±0.02, 0.72±0.16, 0.54±0.11, and 0.31±0.14, respectively; p-Smad1 protein (grad value ratio): 0.94±0.03, 0.76±0.13, 0.62±0.11, and 0.43±0.12, respectively), with statistically significant difference among groups (all P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allicin depresses the mRNA and protein expression of α-SMA, and inhibits p-Smad1 in a dose-dependent manner, thus interrupts the transforming growth factor-β and Rho kinase signal pathway.
authors: Department of Pulmonology, the First Hospital Affiliated to General Hospital of PLA, Beijing, China. yixueqikanw@126.com
authors: Xiao-yang
authors: XY
authors: Wei
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004220:Disulfides; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D051898:Smad1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D013441:Sulfinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D004220:Disulfides; C497399:SMAD1 protein, human; D051898:Smad1 Protein; D013441:Sulfinic Acids; C006452:allicin