Blueberry Juice Attenuates Pulmonary Fibrosis via Blocking the TGF-β1/Smad Signaling Pathway

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, fatal, and chronic lung disease, lacking a validated and effective therapy. Blueberry has demonstrated multiple pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate whether blueberry juice (BBJ) could ameliorate IPF. Experiments in vitro revealed that BBJ could significantly reduce the expressions of TGF-β1 modulated fibrotic protein, which were involved in the cascade of fibrosis in NIH/3T3 cells and human pulmonary fibroblasts. In addition, for rat primary lung fibroblasts (RPLFs), BBJ promoted the cell apoptosis along with reducing the expressions of α-SMA, vimentin, and collagen I, while increasing the E-cadherin level. Furthermore, BBJ could reverse epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotypic changes and inhibit cell migration, along with inducing the upregulation of E-cadherin in A549 cells. Compared with the vehicle group, BBJ treatment alleviated fibrotic pathological changes and collagen deposition in both bleomycin-induced prevention and treatment pulmonary fibrosis models. In fibrotic lung tissues, BBJ remarkably suppressed the expressions of collagen I, α-SMA, and vimentin and improved E-cadherin, which may be related to its inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smad pathway and anti-inflammation efficacy. Taken together, these findings comprehensively proved that BBJ could effectively prevent and attenuate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis via suppressing EMT and the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.

Catalpol Attenuates Pulmonary Fibrosis by Inhibiting Ang II/AT1 and TGF-β/Smad-Mediated Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition

“…TGF-β, a key factor in fibrotic diseases and one of the most studied cytokines, it has various biological effects, such as increasing ECM deposition, recruiting inflammatory cells, contributing to fibrocyte differentiation and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) ( 41 , 42 ). TGF-β induces EMT development and progression of lung fibrosis mainly through its canonical Smad dependent pathway.…”

Component analysis and anti-pulmonary fibrosis effects of Rosa sterilis juice

“…The liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry conditions were as described in previous methods. 16…”

“…The liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry conditions were as described in previous methods. 16 3.1.2. Determination of total polyphenols and total flavonoids Test solution preparation.…”

“…The detection methods of total flavonoids and total polyphenols in RSJ were as described previously. 16 3.1.…”

“…The scavenging rates of the DPPH radicals, ABTS radicals, and • OH radicals of RSJ were detected as in previous methods. 16 In particular, the dilution concentrations of RSJ and Vc in the DPPH radical scavenging assay were 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 μL mL −1 (or μg mL −1 , Vc), respectively. In the ABTS and • OH free radical scavenging assays, the dilution concentrations of RSJ and Vc were 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 μL mL −1 (or μg mL −1 , Vc), respectively.…”