| Summary: | Objective To study the effect of matrine on paraquat(PQ)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice and its possible mechanism. Methods Mice were divided into the control group, the paraquat(PQ) group and the matrine group randomly. The pulmonary fibrosis model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of paraquat (18 mg/kg). Twenty-four hours after modeling, the treatment group was intragastrically administered with matrine (100 mg/kg). Twenty-eight days later, the lung tissues of each group were collected; HE staining and Masson staining were used to observe the severity of inflammation and fibrosis in the lung tissue; Ashcroft scale was used to evaluate pulmonary fibrosis, and the content of hydroxyproline(HYP) in lung tissue of mice was detected by alkaline water method; Western blot was used to detect the expression of collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ; The expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-related proteins[ alpha-smooth muscle action(α-SMA), E-cardherin and vimentin] was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Results The pulmonary structure of paraquat group mice was damaged significantly with deposition of collagen fiber. Compared with the control group, Aschcroft scale of the model group significantly increased(P＜0.001)and paraquat upregulated the expression of EMT-related proteins significantly. After matrine intervention, the pathological evidence of pulmonary fibrosis was decreased and the content of hydroxyproline, collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ in lung tissue was decreased(P＜0.001). The protein expression of α-SMA and vimentin was inhibited(P＜0.05,P＜0.001). Conclusions Matrine has a protective effect on paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice, which may be mediated by inhibition of EMT-related proteins.
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