黄芩素对野百合碱诱导的肺动脉高压大鼠血管壁增厚的抑制作用

目的:观察黄芩素(baicalein)对野百合碱(monocrotaline,MCT)诱导的肺动脉高压(pulmonary artery hypertension,PAH)大鼠的治疗作用,并初步探讨其机制。方法 :28只雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组、MCT模型组、黄芩素低剂量组和黄芩素高剂量组。除对照组外,其余各组大鼠皮下注射MCT建立大鼠PAH模型,黄芩素低、高剂量组于MCT注射2周后分别灌胃黄芩素50和100 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1),持续14 d,对照组灌胃等量生理盐水。造模4周后,测定大鼠右心室收缩压(right ventricular systolic pressure,RVSP)、右心室肥厚指数(right ventricular hypertrophy index,RVHI)和右心室质量指数(right ventricular mass index,RVMI);Masson染色检测肺组织纤维化程度;HE染色观察肺血管病理形态学变化;Western blot测定各组肺组织α-平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-smooth muscle actin,α-SMA)蛋白水平及肺小动脉p38、ERK和JNK的磷酸化水平。结果:与对照组比较,MCT模型组大鼠的RVSP、RVHI和RVMI均明显升高(P0.01),肺组织纤维化明显,肺组织中α-SMA表达上调(P0.01),肺动脉壁增厚,肺小动脉p38,ERK和JNK磷酸化水平明显升高(P0.01);与MCT模型组相比,黄芩素高、低剂量组的RVSP、RVHI和RVMI明显降低(P0.01),肺组织纤维化和血管壁增厚明显改善,p38、ERK和JNK的磷酸化水平减少(P0.01)。结论:黄芩素可减轻MCT诱导的肺动脉高压,其作用通过抑制肺动脉壁增厚来实现,其分子机制可能与其抑制肺动脉的MAPK信号通路有关。

Baicalein inhibits monocrotaline-induced vascular wall thickening in rats with pulmonary hypertension

AIM:To investigate the effects of baicalein on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) induced by monocrotaline (MCT) in rats, and its molecular mechanism was further explored. METHODS:Male SD rats (n=28) were randomly divided into 4 groups:control group, MCT group, MCT+baicalein 50 mg/kg group and MCT+baicalein 100 mg/kg group. The PAH model was established by subcutaneous injection of MCT. After 2 weeks of modeling, the rats in baicalein treatment groups were gavaged baicalein 50 and 100 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 for 14 d, the rats in control group were administered with saline. After 4 weeks of modeling, right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) and right ventricular mass index (RVMI) were detected. Masson staining was used to detect the degree of lung fibrosis. The pathomorphological changes of the pulmonary vessels were observed by HE staining. Western blot was used to detect the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the lung tissue and the phosphorylation p38, ERK and JNK in the artery. RESULTS:Compared with the control group, RVSP, RVHI and RVMI increased significantly in the MCT group (P<0.01). Pulmonary fibrosis and the thickening of pulmonary artery wall were observed. α-SMA was up-regulated and p38, ERK and JNK was activated significantly (P<0.01). Compared with the MCT group, baicalein (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly decreased the RVSP, RVHI and RVMI (P<0.01). Lung fibrosis was reduced and the vascular wall thickening was decreased in baicalein-treated groups. Baicalein (50 and 100 mg/kg) inhibited the phosphorylation of p38, ERK and JNK compared with the MCT group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION:Baicalein ameliorates MCT-induced PAH by the inhibition of pulmonary artery wall thickening at least partially via MAPK signaling pathway.