Mechanistic insights into the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis with bioactive components from traditional chinese medicine via matrix stiffness-mediated EMT

•Explores TCM's role in pulmonary fibrosis from a biomechanical perspective for the first time.•Identifies ECC-JHF II's potential to mitigate matrix stiffness-induced EMT in IPF.•Reveals ECC-JHF II's inhibitory effects on integrin/ROCK/MRTF signaling pathways.•Demonstrates ECC-JHF II's ability to ameliorate BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.•Suggests a novel therapeutic strategy for IPF by targeting mechanotransduction with TCM. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease with limited therapeutic options. Our previous research has shown that the Jinshui Huanxian formula (JHF) is effective in treating IPF. However, the biomechanical mechanisms of its refined components, known as the effective-component compatibility of JHF II (ECC-JHF II), are not well understood. This study aims to explore how bioactive components from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) impact the biomechanical progression of pulmonary fibrosis. A mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis was established by a single intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (Bleomycin). Pulmonary function, pathological changes, collagen deposition, lung tissue stiffness, and EMT markers were evaluated at the end of the study. Polyethylene glycol hydrogels with adjustable stiffness were used to mimic both normal and pathological lung conditions. The effects of ECC-JHF II on matrix stiffness-mediated EMT were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence. The biomechanical mechanisms underlying ECC-JHF II on EMT and pulmonary fibrosis were verified both in vivo and in vitro. ECC-JHF II significantly improved bleomycin (Bleomycin)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice, manifested as increased tidal volume and 50 % tidal volume expiratory flow, reduced lung tissue stiffness, and decreased EMT markers. Histopathological analysis showed reduced inflammation, alveolar damage, and collagen deposition. In vitro, ECC-JHF II reversed the EMT phenotypic transition induced by substrate stiffness, demonstrated by the upregulation of E-cadherin, occludin, and zonula occluden-1, and the downregulation of N-cadherin, vimentin, caldesmon 1 and tropomyosin 1. Moreover, ECC-JHF II could inhibit integrin/ROCK/MRTF signaling in vitro and in vivo. Silencing integrin β1 or activating it with pyrintegrin further confirmed the role of integrin β1 in the mechanotransduction pathway and the efficacy of ECC-JHF II. Taken together, the findings of this study indicate that ECC-JH