Effects And Mechanisms Of Safflower For Skin And Pulmonary Fibrosis In Systemic Scleroderma Mice

Objective : To establish scleroderma mouse model, observe the effects of safflower on scleroderma mouse skin and lung tissue fibrosis and Interleukin-17、Interleukin-6, from the perspective of immune inflammation, explore the mechanism of action of safflower of SSc fibrosis.Methods: 128 BALB/C mice were randomly divided into blank group、model group、 prednisone group and safflower group, the blank group were injected physiological saline, the other three groups were treated with BLM at the back to construct the SSc model. Building at the same time, the blank group and model group was given saline lavage, prednisone group was given prednisone liquid lavage, safflower group was given water extract of safflower to fill the stomach. In 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, 28 days partial kill the mice. All mice were decapitated and the blood, back skin of the BLM injection part and lungs were collected. The pathological changes were observed by HE and Masson staining. After that all the tissue slices were measured dermal thickness, and detect the skin and lung tissue hydroxyproline (HYP) content by the Sample hydrolysis method. The Protein expression of IL-17、IL-6 in skin and lung tissue was detected by Immunohistochemisty. The IL-17 and IL-6 concentration in serum was determined by ELISA.Results: In 7 days,compared with the blank group, The dermal thickness of model group increased significantly (P<0.05 ). the IL-17 and IL-6 concentration in serum and the protein expression in the tissues of the other three groups were elevated (P<0.05 ) ; compared with the model group, The dermal thickness and the expression of IL-17 and IL-6 were declined in prednisone group and Safflower group,prednisone group declined more significantly (P<0.05 ) . In 14 days, compared with the blank group, each group of murine injected back the skin thickening significantly (P< 0.05 ). The content of tissue HYP were increased. The level of IL-17、IL-6 in serum and the Protein expression in tissue were increased(P<0.05 );compared with the model group ,the dermal thickness and the content of HYP were reduce in prednisone group and Safflower group (P< 0.05 ) , the expression of IL-17 and IL-6 were declined in prednisone group and Safflower group, prednisone group declined more significantly (P< 0.05 ). In 21 days and 28days,each group of the dermal thickness and the content of tissue HYP were increased. The level of IL-17、IL-6 in serum and the Protein expression in tissue were increased(P<0.05);compared with the model group, dermal thickness , the content of HYP and the content and Protein expression of IL-17、IL-6 were decline (P<0.05 ) in prednisone group and Safflower group, Safflower group declined more significantly (P<0.05).Conclusions: Safflower could decline the level of IL-17、IL-6 in serum and the protein expression in tissue, reduce inflammation, ease the process of tissue fibrosis.Safflower role of scleroderma tissue fibrosis in mice, and possible anti-inflammatory, immune regulation and so on the many kinds of pharmacological action.