Effects of Ergosterol on COPD in Mice via JAK3/STAT3/NF-κB Pathway

Inflammation. 2017 Jun;40(3):884-893. doi: 10.1007/s10753-017-0533-5.

Abstract

The present study was to evaluate the effect of ergosterol (ER) on CS (cigarette smoke)-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in mice. Fifty male ICR mice were randomly assigned to five groups: control group, CS group, CS + dexamethasone (Dex, 2 mg/kg) group, CS + ER (ER, 25 mg/kg) group, CS + ER (ER, 50 mg/kg). H&E staining demonstrated that ER inhibited CS-induced pathological injury in lung tissue. Besides, ER could restore the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum and in the lung, catalase (CAT) in serum and reduce the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum and in the lung. ER also inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in serum and the lung. Furthermore, ER significantly inhibited the protein expression of JAK3/STAT3/NF-κB pathway in CS-induced mice. Our findings suggested that ER might effectively ameliorate the progression of COPD via JAK3/STAT3/NF-κB pathway in mice.

Keywords: COPD; Ergosterol; JAK3/STAT3/NF-κB.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cigarette Smoking / adverse effects
  • Ergosterol / pharmacology*
  • Ergosterol / therapeutic use
  • Janus Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Lung Injury / drug therapy
  • Lung Injury / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Provitamins / pharmacology
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / drug therapy*
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*

Substances

  • NF-kappa B
  • Provitamins
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Stat3 protein, mouse
  • Jak3 protein, mouse
  • Janus Kinase 3
  • Ergosterol