Effect Of Tripterygium Wilfordii On Expression Of TGF-β₁-mRNA And Collagen Type Ⅲ Of Asthmatic Rats

Objective To evaluate the effect of Tripterygium wilfordii(TW)on airway wall thickness and the expression of transforming growth factor(TGF)-β₁mRNA and collagen type III in lung tissues of asthmatic rats and to investigate the molecular mechanism of protective effect of Tripterygium wilfordii on airway remodeling.Methods Thirty Wistar male rats were randomly divided into the control group, the asthmatic group and the TW treated group, with ten rats in each group. The model of asthmatic was established with ovalbumin aerosol inhalation for ten weeks. The TGF-β₁mRNA was measured by RT-PCR and the level of collagen type III in airway wall was measured by immunohistochemistry. H-E staining was performed to observe the thickness of airway wall.Results The expression of TGF-β₁mRNA and collagen type III and the thickness of airway wall in asthmatic group were significantly higher than those in TW treated group and control group; and in TW treated group, they were higher than those in control group. The result of correlated analysis with Pearson showed that the TGF-β₁mRNA was positive correlated with the collagen type III.Conclusion TW can decrease the thickness of rat airway wall and the expression of TGF-β₁mRNA and collagen type III. TW can postpone the process of airway remodeling by way of down-regulating the over-expressions of TGF-β₁mRNA, and then depressing the over deposition of collagen type III in extra cell matrix.