title: [Qibaipingfei Capsule down-regulate the levels of calcineurin and nuclear factor of activated T-cells isoform c3 (NFATc3) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of Qibaipingfei Capsule (QPC) on the expressions of calcineurin (CaN) and nuclear factor of activated T-cells isoform c3 (NFATc3) of rat models with phlegm and blood stasis syndrome of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to explore the possible mechanism underlying the intervention of QPC in pulmonary vascular remodeling of COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a positive group of nifedipine, a high dose group, a middle dose group and a low dose group of QPC. The rat models with phlegm and blood stasis syndrome of COPD were established by compound methods of forced swimming, smoking and hypoxia. Then the pulmonary function and the pathological alterations of pulmonary vessels were observed. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein levels of CaN and NFATc3 in the lung tissues were determined by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the normal group, the forced expiratory volume at 0.3 second (FEV0.3), the forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV0.3/FVC in the model group were significantly reduced, but compared with the model group, the values mentioned above were restored to different extents in the groups of nifedipine and QPC. The lung tissues of the model group showed the thickening of pulmonary vascular wall and the formation of compensating emphysema. The above pathological changes were relieved in all the treatment groups. Compared with the normal group, the expressions of CaN and NFATc3 in the model group were significantly up-regulated in transcription and translation levels. Compared with the model group, these expressions were down-regulated to various degrees in all the treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QPC can decrease the levels of CaN and NFATc3 in the lung tissues of COPD.
authors.affiliation: Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065; Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China.
authors.forename: Baoqin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038; Key Discipline of SATCM-TCM Lung Disease, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
authors.forename: Zegeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China.
authors.forename: Qinghe
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Key Discipline of SATCM-TCM Lung Disease, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Discipline of SATCM-TCM Lung Disease, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
authors.forename: Jiabing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000032:analysis*; D002214:Capsules; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; C445503:transcription factor NF-AT c3; D019703:Calcineurin