title: Effect of Liuweibuqi capsule, a Chinese patent medicine, on the JAK1/STAT3 pathway and MMP9/TIMP1 in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rat model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe effect of Liuweibuqi Capsule, a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), on the janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rat model with lung deficiency in terms of TCM's pattern differentiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were randomly divided into a normal group, model group, Liuweibuqi group, Jinshuibao group, and spleen aminopeptidase group (n=10). Aside from the normal group, all rats were exposed to smoke plus lipopolysaccharide tracheal instillation to establish the COPD model with lung deficiency. Models were established after 28 days and then the normal and model groups were given normal saline (0.09 g/kg), Liuweibuqi group was given Liuweibuqi capsule (0.35 g/kg), Jinshuibao group was given Jinshuibao capsules (0.495 g/kg), and the spleen group was given spleen aminopeptidase (0.33 mg/kg), once a day for 30 days. Changes in symptoms, signs, and lung histology were observed. Lung function was measured with a spirometer. Serum cytokines were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and changes in the JAK/STAT pathway, MMP-9, and MMPs inhibitor 1 (TIMP1) were detected by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and western blotting, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the normal group, lung tissue was damaged, and lung function was reduced in the model control group. Additionally, the levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), and IL-6 were higher, while IL-4 and IL-10 were lower in the model control group than those in the normal group. The expressions of JAK1, STAT3, p-STAT3, and MMP-9 mRNA and protein in lung tissue were higher, and TIMP1 mRNA and protein was lower in the model group compared with the normal group. After treatment, compared with the model group, the expression of inflammatory cytokines was lower in each treatment group, and expressions of JAK/STAT pathway, MMPs were lower. Compared with the positive control groups, the Jinshuibao and spleen aminopeptidase groups, lung function was better, and JAK1, STAT3, and p-STAT3 protein were lower and TIMP1 was higher in the Liuweibuqi group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liuweibuqi capsules can improve the symptoms of COPD possibly by regulating the expression of the JAK1/STAT3 pathway and MMP9/TIMP1.
authors.forename: Chengyang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zegen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiangguo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qinghe
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Da
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chuanbo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002214:Capsules / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D053613:Janus Kinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D053613:Janus Kinase 1; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9