Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of pachymic acid on inflammatory response in chronic bronchitis rats by regulating Jagged1/Notch1 signaling pathway.
METHODS A chronic bronchitis rat model was developed by inhalation of 2% sulfur dioxide. Rats were divided into control group, model group, low-dose (L)-pachymic acid (7.5 mg/kg/d) group, high-dose (H)-pachymic acid (15 mg/kg/d) group and H-pachymic acid + Jagged1 (50 mg/kg Jagged1 protein) group (each n=12). Forced expiratory volume in 0.3 s (FEV 0.3), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV 0.3/FVC ratio were measured. Cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was conducted to analyze lung histopathology. Serum levels of interleukin-17A (IL-17A), IL-10, chemokine C-C motif ligand 20 (CCL20), C-C chemokine receptor type 6 (CCR6) and Jagged1 and Notch1 protein expression levels in lung tissues were detected.
RESULTS Compared with the control group, the model group showed lower FEV 0.3, FVC and FEV 0.3/FVC ratio, higher white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NEU), lymphocyte (Ly) and monocyte (Mon) counts in BALF, higher inflammatory infiltration score in the upper lung lobe, higher serum levels of IL-17A, CCL20 and CCR6, lower IL-10 levels and higher Jagged1 and Notch1 protein expression (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the L-pachymic acid and H-pachymic acid groups exhibited higher FEV 0.3, FVC and FEV 0.3/FVC ratio, lower WBC, NEU, Ly and Mon counts in BALF, lower inflammatory infiltration score in the upper lung lobe, lower serum levels of IL-17A, CCL20 and CCR6, higher IL-10 levels and lower Jagged1 and Notch1 protein expression (P<0.05). Compared with the H-pachymic acid group, the H-pachymic acid + Jagged1 group exhibited lower FEV 0.3, FVC and FEV 0.3/FVC, higher counts of WBC, NEU, Ly and Mon cells in BALF, higher inflammatory infiltration scores in the upper lung lobes, higher serum levels of IL-17A, CCL20 and CCR6, lower IL-10 levels and higher Jagged1 and Notch1 protein expression (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION Poric acid may alleviate inflammatory response in chronic bronchitis rats by inhibiting the Jagged1/Notch1 signaling pathway.