Mechanism of Yanghe Pingchaun granules on airway remodeling in asthmatic rats based on IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling axis

Objective: To investigate the effects of Yanghe Pingchuan Granules on airway remodeling in asthmatic rats, and to explore the mechanism of Interleukin-6/Janus kinase 2/ Signal transducing activator of transcription 3(IL-6/JAK2/STAT3) signal axis. Methods: We separated 42 healthy male SD rats into two groups, a control group (7) and a model group (35).The model group was sensitized with a combination of ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide for 2 weeks, while the control group was given an equal amount of physiological saline.After 2 weeks, the modeling group was randomly divided into Model group, Yanghe Pingchuan Granules high, medium and low dose groups and Dexamethasone group, each group consisted of 7 animals. After 4 weeks, OVA atomization and gavage were used for stimulation and treatment. Yanghe Pingchuan Granules high, middle and low groups were given 15.48, 7.74, 3.87 g∙kg-1 Yanghe Pingchuan Granules daily, dexamethasone group was given 0.0625 mg∙kg-1 dexamethasone daily, and the other groups were given the same amount of normal saline. HE, PAS and Masson staining were used to observe the lung histopathological changes in rats. The levels of interleukin-6, IL-23 and IL-17A were detected by ELISA. The expression levels of JAK-2, P-JAK2, STAT3 and P-STAT3 in lung tissues were detected by Western blot. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of IL-6, JAK2 and STAT3 in rat lung tissue. Results: The lung tissue structure of the model group was severely damaged compared to the control group, accompanied by a great many of inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, subepithelial collagen fiber deposition and airway epithelial thickening were more obvious. The expressions of IL-6, IL- 23 and IL-17A in serum were significantly increased (P<0.01), the protein expression levels of JAK-2, P-JAK2, STAT3 and P-STAT3 and the mRNA expression levels of IL-6, JAK2 and STAT3 in lung tissue were significantly increased (P<0.01);Compared with the model group, inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet cell proliferation, subepithelial collagen fiber deposition and airway epithelial thickening were significantly reduced in each administration group, and the expressions of IL-6, IL-23 and IL-17A in serum were significantly decreased (P< 0.01). The protein expression levels of JAK-2, P-JAK2, STAT3 and P-STAT3 and mRNA expression levels of IL-6, JAK2 and STAT3 in lung tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Conclusion: Yanghe Pingchuan Granules can significantly alleviate airway remodeling in asthmatic rats, and its mechanism may be through inhibiting the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signal axis.

基于IL-6/JAK2/STAT3信号轴研究阳和平喘颗粒调控哮喘大鼠气道重塑作用机制

目的:研究阳和平喘颗粒对哮喘大鼠气道重塑及白细胞介素-6(IL-6)/Janus蛋白酪氨酸激酶2(JAK2)/信号转导和转录活化因子3(STAT3)信号轴在其中的作用机制。方法:选取健康雄性SD大鼠42只,随机数字法分为正常对照组7只与造模组35只,造模组采用卵清蛋白(OVA)联合氢氧化铝腹腔注射2周的方式进行致敏,正常对照组采用等量的生理盐水;2周后将造模组随机分为模型组、阳和平喘高、中、低剂量组和地塞米松组,每组7只;后4周采用OVA雾化+灌胃的方式进行激发和治疗,阳和平喘高中低组每日分别予以15.48、7.74、3.87 g/kg阳和平喘颗粒灌胃,地塞米松组予以0.0625 mg/kg地塞米松进行灌胃,其余组灌胃等量生理盐水。HE、PAS、Masson染色观察大鼠肺组织病理学变化;ELISA检测大鼠血清中IL-6、IL-23、IL-17A水平;Western blot检测肺组织中JAK-2、P-JAK2、STAT3、P-STAT3蛋白表达量;qRT-PCR检测大鼠肺组织中IL-6、JAK2、STAT3的mRNA水平。结果:与正常对照组比较,模型组大鼠肺组织有大量炎性细胞浸润,杯状细胞增生、上皮下胶原纤维沉积、气道上皮增厚较为明显;血清中IL-6、IL-23、IL-17A水平显著升高(P<0.01),肺组织JAK-2、P-JAK2、STAT3、P-STAT3的蛋白表达量和IL-6、JAK2、STAT3的mRNA表达水平显著升高(P<0.01);与模型组比较,各给药组炎性细胞浸润、杯状细胞增生、上皮下胶原纤维沉积、气道上皮增厚程度明显减轻,血清中IL-6、IL-23、IL-17A水平显著降低(P<0.01),肺组织JAK-2、P-JAK2、STAT3、P-STAT3的蛋白表达量和IL-6、JAK2、STAT3的mRNA水平显著降低(P<0.01)。结论:阳和平喘颗粒可明显缓解哮喘大鼠气道重塑,其机制可能是通过抑制IL-6/JAK2/STAT3信号轴发挥作用。