Caveolin-1 improves lung injury in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease partially through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of Caveolin-1 on lung injury in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The forced expiratory volume in 0.3 s/forced vital capacity (FEV0.3/ FVC) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were determined. The total white blood cells (WBC), neutrophil ratio (NEUT%), mononuclear macrophage ratio (MNM%), lymphocyte ratio (LY%) and protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. Both FEV0.3/FVC and PEF significantly declined in the COPD group compared with those in the Control group, while they significantly rose in the IWR-1 group and Daidzin group compared with those in the COPD group. HE staining showed that there were alveolar dilatation and enlargement with obviously increased intercept in the COPD group, while there were basically no changes in the alveoli in the IWR-1 group and Daidzin group. Massive apoptosis of alveolar tissues was observed in COPD group, and there was only a little apoptosis in IWR-1 group and Daidzin group. In COPD group, WBC, NEUT% and protein concentration in BALF were obviously increased, MNM% was obviously decreased, and there was no obvious difference in LY% compared with those in the Control group. In the the IWR-1 group and Daidzin group, WBC, NEUT%, protein concentration, MNM% and LY% in BALF had no obvious differences compared with those in the Control group. In the IWR-1 group and Daidzin group, WBC, NEUT% and protein concentration evidently declined, MNM% evidently rose, and there was no obvious difference in LY% compared with those in the COPD group. Caveolin-1, Wnt-1 and β-catenin in lung tissues were remarkably higher in the COPD group than those in the Control group. Caveolin-1 was remarkably higher in the IWR-1 group than that in the Control group. And Wnt-1 and β-catenin were higher in the Daidzin group than those in the Control group. In addition, Wnt-1 and β-catenin in lung tissues markedly declined in the IWR-1 group compared with those in the COPD group. Caveolin-1, Wnt-1 and β-catenin in lung tissues also markedly declined in the Daidzin group compared with those in the COPD group. Caveolin-1 can improve lung injury in COPD rats through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.