Rosiridin reduces Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis by inhibiting the STAT3/NFκB/SMAD3 signaling pathways

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive, highly lethal disease with limited treatment options. It is characterized by fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transformation, excessive ECM proliferation and collagen deposition, leading to the destruction of normal lung architecture and function. As a constituent of Rhodiola rosea L., rosiridin is a monomer with significant structural compatibility, conferring strong therapeutic potential. This bioactive compound mitigates oxidative stress-driven pathology and reverses its resultant damage in various diseases. However, its potential protective effects against bleomycin-induced IPF and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of rosiridin in IPF. Rosiridin attenuated TGF-β1-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in lung epithelial cells and suppressed apoptosis associated with pulmonary fibrosis. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and Masson's trichrome staining showed that rosiridin improved pathological lung changes, reduced oxidative stress, and alleviated pulmonary fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that rosiridin inhibited JAK protein activation, reduced the transformation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, and suppressed the secretion of proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokines. These findings suggest that rosiridin mitigates pulmonary fibrosis through modulation of the STAT3/NF-κB/SMAD3 signaling pathways. Rosiridin may represent a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of IPF.