Effect of Matrine on Bleomycin-induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats and the Expression of HGF and HYP in Lung Tissue

Objective To explore the role of hydroxyproline(HYP) and hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) in pulmonary fibrosis,and to discuss the effect of different concentrations of matrine on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats and the expression of HGF and HYP in lung tissue.Methods Ninety healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups.All the rats were given intratracheal bleomycin(5 mg/kg) for producing pulmonary fibrosis models.Five rats in each group were sacrificed 7,14,and 28 days after intratracheal instillation.The content of HYP in lung tissue was detected.The mRNA of HGF was detected by in situ hybridization,and the level of HGF protein was further measured by Western blot analysis.Results In the normal lung tissue,HGF and HYP were expressed.Compared with normal lung tissue,the content of HYP in pulmonary fibrosis was significantly increased(P0.01),while HGF was reduced significantly(P0.01).Compared with model group,the high-dose and medium-dose matrine and prednisone could decrease the degree of pulmonary fibrosis,but the high-dose matrine and prednisone decreased it significantly(P0.01).No statistically significant difference was found in the expression of HYP and HGF in lung tissue between low-dose matrine group and model group(P0.05).Conclusions One of the mechanisms for inhibiting pulmonary fibrosis could be achieved by increasing the activity of HGF through matrine,and this effect has a dose-dependent manner.