Salidroside improves pulmonary fibrosis by down-regulation of cathepsin B and NF-κBp65 in rats

Abstract

To investigate the mechanism of salidroside in improvement of pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Methods: SD rats were subjected to 6 groups: a blank group, a model group, a pirfenidone group, a high-dose salidroside group, a middle-dose salidroside group, and a low-dose salidroside group. The contents of ALB, ALP, LDH, PC-III and COL4, and the expression levels of cathepsin B (CB) and NF-κBp65 in the 6 groups were analyzed. Results: Lung coefficient and oxygen partial pressure in the blank group were lower than those in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, lung coefficients in the pirfenidone group, the high-dose salidroside group, the middle-dose salidroside group, and the low-dose salidroside group were decreased, while oxygen partial pressures were statistically increased (P<0.05). The contents of ALB, ALP and LDH in the model group were statistically increased (P<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with the blank group, the contents of GSH, HYP, PC-III and COL4, and the expression levels of CB and NF-κBp65 in the model group were significantly increased (P<0.05), which were attenuated by alidroside in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Conclusion: Salidroside can improve pulmonary fibrosis in rats, and the mechanism may be related to reduce the expression of CB and NF-κBp65.