Effect of Bufei decoction on autophagy-related proteins Cat-D, beclin-1, and p62 involved in pulmonary fibrosis

YANG Chang-fu; LIU Yang; XU Chang-jun; LIU Ming; LIN Chang; DENG Ying; ZHU Xing; OU Jiang-qin

Abstract：Objective:To investigate the effect of Bufei decoction on autophagy-related proteins Cat-D,beclin-1,and p62 involved in pulmonary fibrosis in mice.Methods:Seventy C57 mice were divided into seven groups including sham group,model group,Bufei decoction groups of 26.67,13.33 and 6.67 g· kg-1,dexamethasone group of 0.125 mg·kg-1,and combination group of Bufei decoction of 13.3 g· kg-1 with dexamethasone,with 10 in each group.The mice in the sham group underwent intratracheal instillation of normal saline while the other groups received intratracheal instillation of bleomycin injection 2 days after operation.On the 28th day,samples were taken and HE staining and Masson staining were performed to observe the pathological changes of lung tissue and collagen activity.Immunohistochemistry method was used to observe and record the Cat-D,beclin-1,p62 average optical density,and changes of numbers and area of positive cells.The change tendency of Cat-D,beclin-1,and p62 were analyzed by Western blotting.Results:HE staining showed that the inflammatory cells infiltration in the lung tissues had different degrees of improvement in the Bufei decoction groups,dexamethasone group as well as the combination group compared with the model group.Masson staining showed that compared with the model group,the lung tissue collagen activity appeared different degree of ease in Bufei decoction groups,dexamethasone group and the combination group.It was found by immunohistochemistry test that compared with the model group,Cat-D protein expression was down-regulated in all the treatment groups.The expressions of beclin-1 protein in the Sham group and Bufei decoction groups were statistically different compared with the model group.The average optical density of P62 protein of each dose group was similar with the model group.Western-blotting results showed that the expression amounts of Cat-D,beclin-1,and p62 protein had different degrees of changes.Conclusion:Bufei decoction has significant effect on the pathological changes of lung fibrosis and the activity of collagen.Bufei decoction has a regulatory effect on the changes of autophagy related proteins Cat-D,beclin-1,and p62.