Matrine Suppresses Pancreatic Fibrosis by Regulating TGF-β/Smad Signaling in Rats

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the anti-pancreatic fibrosis effects of matrine in rats.Materials and Methods: Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid was administrated to rats to establish a pancreatic fibrosis model.Rats were divided into four groups: Control, Sham, Model, and Matrine (n=8).Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, and Azan staining were performed to evaluate pancreatic fibrosis.Expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagen I in pancreatic tissues was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining.mRNA and protein levels of TGF-β receptor 1 (TβR1), TβR2, and Smad2 in pancreatic tissues were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.results: In the model group, hyperplasia of glandules around the glandular ducts, mitochondrial swelling of acinous cells, and severe fibrosis were found.Interestingly, in the Matrine group, mitochondrial swelling was only found in a small number of acinous cells, and the fundamental structures of pancreatic tissues were intact.Moreover, pancreatic fibrosis was markedly alleviated.Comparing to the Sham group, expression of α-SMA, TGF-β1, and collagen I was sharply elevated in the Model group (p<0.05);however, their expressions were much lower in the Matrine group, compared to the Model group (p<0.05).Compared with the Sham group, mRNA and protein levels of Smad2, TβR1, and TβR2 in the Model group were notably raised (p<0.05).However, their high expression was significantly downregulated in the Matrine group (p<0.05).conclusion: Matrine suppressed pancreatic fibrosis by regulating TGF-β/Smad signaling in rats.