Anti-fibrosis Effect of Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiang Decoction related to Inhibition of ERK1/2 Pathway
WANG Yu-peng,LI Cai-xia,CUI Li-hua
Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin (300193), China
Abstract:
Objective To explore the anti-fibrosis mechanism of Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiang Decoction in the treatment of pancreatic fibrosis based on the ERK1/2 signal pathway. Methods 30 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and treatment group. A rat model of pancreatic fibrosis was established by a single injection of DBTC (7 mg / kg) through the caudal vein. On the second day after the injection, the treatment group was given Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiang Decoction (1.0g/ml, 10 g / kg body weight) once a day until the end of the experiment. The model group was given equal volume drinking water. The pathological changes of pancreas were observed by picric-Sirius red staining on the 28th day after the injection. The contents of collagen type I and type III were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the expression levels of mRNA and protein of extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) and dual specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP 6) were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blotting respectively. Results Diffuse fibrous tissue hyperplasia was observed in the pancreas of the model group: collagen type I and type III were interweaved into a network, the structure of pancreatic lobules was destroyed or disappeared, and acini were atrophic or deformed. In the treatment group, some pancreatic lobules were proliferated and the acinar structure was destroyed. In the treatment group, the fibrous tissue hyperplasia was found in some pancreatic lobules, and the acini structure were destroyed, but the normal acini was also found in another lobules. Compared with the control group, the contents of type I and type III collagen were increased, the expression of DUSP6 was decreased, and the expression of ERK 1/2 was increased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the contents of type I and type III collagen were decreased, the expression of DUSP 6 was increased, and the expression of ERK 1/2 was decreased in the treatment group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The anti-fibrosis mechanism of Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiang Decoction is related to the up-regulation of DUSP 6 expression and inhibition of ERK 1/2 expression and activity in chronic pancreatitis.