[The effect of matrine on the signal transduction pathway of transforming growth factor-beta1 in human lung fibroblast cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of matrine on the signal transduction pathway of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). METHODS: The effect of TGF-beta1, Staurosporine, PD98059 and matrine on the expression of CTGF, CTGF mRNA, p-Smad2, and p-ERK1/2 were evaluated by Western blot in cultured HLF-02 cells. Immunohistochemical staining was applied to test the expression of CTGF and the expression level of CTGF mRNA was assayed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Basal levels of CTGF protein were observed in cultured HLF-02. The expression of CTGF, CTGF mRNA, p-Smad2 and p-ERK1/2, in HLF-02 cells were stimulated significantly (P < 0.01) by 1 ng/mL TGF-beta1 treatment. The increase of CTGF protein was inhibited significantly by pre-incubation with Staurosporine (SP) and PD98059 (P < 0.01). And matrine could markedly inhibited the up-regulation of CTGF, CTGF mRNA, p-Smad2 and p-ERK1/2 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in a concentration-dependant manner. CONCLUSION: CTGF, CTGF mRNA, p-Smad2 and p-ERK1/2 of HLF-02 cells could be significantly up-regulated after treated with TGF-beta1, and these increases could be inhibited significantly by matrine. This implied that matrine inhibit the expression of CTGF and CTGF mRNA induced by TGF-beta1 through the Smad2 and ERK signal transduction pathways.