West China Journal of Stomatology ›› 2025, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (5): 636-647.doi: 10.7518/hxkq.2025.2024422

• Basic Research • Previous Articles    

Aloe-emodin inhibits scar tissue fibrosis through thrombospondin-1-PI3k-Akt pathway

Geng Hongbao1(), Zhang Xingyi2, Zhou Siwei3, Li Na4, Liu Jia4, Yuan Xuewei4, Ning Chunliu2, Zhang Xudong2, Huang Wei2()   

  1. 1.Dept. of Stomatology, Women and Children's Health Hospital in Shijiazhuang, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
    2.Hebei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
    3.Dept. of Stomatology, Shijiazhuang Fourth Hospital, Shijiazhuang 050011, China
    4.Dept. of Stomatology, Shijiazhuang Second Hospital, Shijiazhuang 050051, China.
  • Received:2024-11-17 Revised:2025-05-08 Online:2025-10-01 Published:2025-10-21
  • Contact: Huang Wei E-mail:861181470@qq.com;huangwei@hebmu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    Medical Science Research Project in Hebei Province(20240510)

Abstract:

Objective To propose a hypothesis that aloe-emodin may inhibit scar tissue fibrosis through thrombospondin-1(THBS1)-PI3K-Akt pathway. Methods By cultivating fibroblasts derived from scar tissue after cleft palate surgery in humans, aloe emodin of different concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 μmol/L) was added to the cells which activity was detected. At the same time, transcriptome sequencing was performed on scar tissue and cells, and bioinformatics methods were used to explore potential targets and signaling pathways of scar tissue fibrosis. Results Aloe-emodin had a concentration dependent inhibitory effect on fibroblast proliferation,with the 40 μmol/L concentration group showing the most significant effect. The results of tissue and cell sequencing indicated that differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathway, and shared a common differential gene which was THBS1. The ORA analysis results indicated that differentially expressed genes, including THBS1, were significantly enriched in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Conclusion Aloe emodin may inhibit the PI3K-Akt pathway by downregulating THBS1, thereby reducing the proliferation activity of fibroblasts derived from postoperative palatal scar tissue.

Key words: aloe-emodin, thrombospondin-1, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, fibrosis, palatal scar

CLC Number: