[Animal modeling] - Effect of astragalus saponin Ⅱ on IL-21/STAT3 pathway and airway inflammation in asthmatic young rats

  Objective To investigate the effects of astragalus saponin Ⅱ on interleukin-21 (IL-21)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway and airway inflammation in asthmatic young rats.

  Methods Juvenile rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, low, medium and high dosage groups of astragalus saponin Ⅱ and dexamethasone group, with 12 rats in each group. Except the control group, the other groups were challenged with ovalbumin (OVA, Detection of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-21 (IL-21) and transforming growth factor in serum and BALF supernatant by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)- β 1( TGF- β 1) Content; Hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes of lung tissue in young rats; Western blot was used to detect the expression of IL-21, phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) and STAT3 proteins in the lung tissues of young rats.

  Results Compared with the control group, the model group showed bronchial epithelial structure disorder, epithelial cell edema and abscission, inflammatory cell infiltration, Penh value, total leukocytes in BALF, eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes and macrophages, IL-6, IL-21 and TGF in BALF supernatant and serum- β The content of IL-21 and p-STAT3 protein in lung tissue, lung inflammation score and lung tissue were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the lung tissue structure of young rats in each treatment group of astragalus saponin Ⅱ and dexamethasone group was gradually complete. Penh value, total leukocytes in BALF, eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes and macrophages, IL-6, IL-21 and TGF in BALF supernatant and serum after different concentrations of Ach challenge- β The content of IL-21 and p-STAT3 protein in lung tissue, lung inflammation score and lung tissue decreased significantly (P<0.05). And with the increase of astragalus saponin Ⅱ dosage, Penh value, total leukocytes in BALF, eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes and macrophages, IL-6, IL-21 and TGF in BALF supernatant and serum of young rats after Ach stimulation at different concentrations- β The content of IL-21, p-STAT3 protein in lung tissue, lung inflammation score and lung tissue decreased in turn (P<0.05).

  Conclusion Astragalus saponin Ⅱ may reduce airway inflammation, repair lung tissue structure and improve asthma symptoms by inhibiting IL-21/STAT3 pathway in young rats with asthma.