Project description:Codonopsis pilosula, a kind of traditional Chinese medicine, possesses anti-aging effect. However, the anti-aging effect of Codonopsis pilosula on lung remains largely unknow and the exact molecular mechanism of Codonopsis pilosula anti-aging also needs to be further studied. Thus, we investigated the protective effect of Codonopsis pilosula on aging lung and the exact molecular mechanism of Codonopsis pilosula anti-aging. To test this hypothesis, we established the aging mice model, and then used Codonopsis pilosula to intervene. Microarray analysis and bioinformatics methods were used to comprehensively analyze lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA (ceRNA) network. Our results showed that the aging mice model was established. From the microarray analysis, 138 lncRNAs, 128 mRNAs and seven miRNAs significantly changed after aging, whereas, 282 lncRNAs, 283 mRNAs and 19 miRNAs were dysregulated after intervention of Codonopsis pilosula. KEGG pathway analysis was performed to explore the signaling pathways involved. Compared with the ceRNA network in aging mice and after intervention of Codonopsis pilosula, we found three mRNAs (Hif3a, Zbtb16, Plxna2) and one lncRNA (NONMMUT063872) associated with Codonopsis pilosula anti-aging and they were validated by qRT-PCR. Altogether, our results showed that Codonopsis pilosula has the protective effect on aging lung and the ceRNA network plays an important role in Codonopsis pilosula anti-aging.