The Effect Of Safflower On Skin Fibirs In Bleomycin-induced Murine Model

Objective: To elucidate the effect of safflower on cutaneous sclerosis, wemeasured the derma thickness and examined the expression of COL-I、COL-III、 VEGF、 PAI-1as well as TM in a murine model ofbleomycin-induced scleroderma.Methods:Dermal sclerosis was induced by subcutaneous injections ofbleomycin in BAB/C mice Mice (n=48) were randomized into sixarms,and each had8mice: Cotrol Group, Model Group, PenicillamineGroup,Low-dose Group、Mid-dose Group and High-dose Group safflowerdecoction. the Cotrol group mice received daily subcutaneous injectionsof PBS for4week,and the left BALB/C mice received dailysubcutaneous injections of bleomycin for4week, at the same time weretreated daily with either Penicillamine or the low-dose、mid-dose、high-dose safflower decoction.Skin fibrosis were evaluated by histologicmethods and derma thickness were mesured.skin concentrations ofCOL-I、 COL-III、 VEGF、 PAI-1and TM were analyzed byImmunohistochemical staining.Results:Injections of bleomycin induced cutaneous fibrosis in BALB/cmice. The increase in cutaneous derma thickness and expressions ofCOL-I、COL-III in Model Group (p<0.05versus control Group). Dermathickness and expressions of COL-I、COL-III were decreasing in Groupstreated with Penicillamine and safflower decoction (p<0.05versus Model Group),especially in mid-dose and high-dose safflower decoctiongroups(p<0.05versus low-dose group. The over expression of VEGF wasobserved in Model Group(p<0.05versus control Group).Expressions ofVEGF were decresing in safflower decoction groups(p<0.05versus ModelGroup),especially in mid-dose and high-dose safflower decoctiongroups(p<0.05versus low-dose group.The expressions of PAI-1、TMwere increasing in Model Group(p<0.05versus control Group).Thedecrease expression of PAI-1、TM were observed in groups teated withsafflower decoction(p<0.05versus Model Group),especially in mid-doseand high dose Groups.Conclusions:Safflower decoction treatment prevented dermal fibrosis.Safflower decoction probably through its effect on protecting endothelialcells、anti-coagulanting and inhibiting of thrombosis prevents the develop-ment of cutaneous fibrosis.