LAUSR

The abnormal proliferation and activation of fibroblasts have been implicated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Herein, the present research explored the impacts of the relationship between hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) on fibroblast activation, which can provide novel insight into the treatment and management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. MRC-5 fibroblasts were firstly activated with TGF-β1, followed by measurement of ADAM17 expression through qRT-PCR and Western blot. Fibrosis-related gene and protein expression levels, cell viability, proliferation, migration, and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation were determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot, MTS, EdU, Transwell, and immunofluorescence assays, respectively. Moreover, the regulatory relationships among HSYA, ADAM17, and the NF-κB/STAT3 pathway in MRC-5 cells were analyzed by bioinformatics analysis, qRT-PCR, and Western blot. The results show that HSYA treatment could diminish the fibrosis-related gene and protein expression patterns, proliferation, migration, and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation in TGF-β1-stimulated MRC-5 cells. Moreover, HSYA could repress the TGF-β1-triggered ADAM17 up-regulation, thereby suppressing the NF-κB/STAT3 pathway. Furthermore, over-expression of ADAM17 negated the inhibitory effect of HSYA on fibroblast activation induced by TGF-β1. The findings revealed that HSYA blocked the NF-κB/STAT3 pathway activation by down-regulating ADAM17, thereby inhibiting TGF-β1-induced fibroblast activation.