1Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 4655 University Road, Changqing District, 250355, Jinan, Shandong, China2Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 16369 Jingshi Road, Lixia District, 250014, Jinan, Shandong, China3Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 18877 Jingshi Road, Lixia District, 250062, Jinan, Shandong, China4Linyi County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Linyi County, 91 Yongxing Street, 251500, Dezhou, Shandong, China
Background Silicosis is an important occupational disease caused by inhalation of free silica and is characterized by persistent pulmonary inflammation, subsequent fibrosis and lung dysfunction. Until now, there has been no effective treatment for the disease due to the complexity of pathogenesis. Fermented cordyceps powder has a similar effect to natural cordyceps in tonifying the lung and kidney. It has started to be used in the adjuvant treatment of silicosis. This work aimed to verify the ...更多
Background Silicosis is an important occupational disease caused by inhalation of free silica and is characterized by persistent pulmonary inflammation, subsequent fibrosis and lung dysfunction. Until now, there has been no effective treatment for the disease due to the complexity of pathogenesis. Fermented cordyceps powder has a similar effect to natural cordyceps in tonifying the lung and kidney. It has started to be used in the adjuvant treatment of silicosis. This work aimed to verify the protective effects of FCP against silicosis, and to explore the related mechanism. Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups including the saline-instilled group, the silica-exposed group, the silica + FCP group and the silica + FCP group. Silicosis rat models were constructed by intratracheal instillation of silica . Rats in the FCP intervention groups received the corresponding dose of FCP daily by intragastric gavage. Rats were sacrificed on days 7, 28 and 56 after treatment, then samples were collected for further analysis. Results FCP intervention reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the concentration of interleukin-1β , interleukin-6 , tumor necrosis factor-α and transforming growth factor-β1 at days 7, 28, 56, and decreased the expression of collagen, α-smooth muscle actin and fibronectin at days 28 and 56 in the lung of silicosis rats. FCP also decreased the immune response of Th1 and Th17 at days 7, 28, 56 and inhibited the enhancement of the Th2 response at day 56. Conclusions FCP intervention could alleviate silica-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, the protective effect may be achieved by reducing Th1 and Th17 immune responses and inhibiting the enhancement of the Th2 response.收起
