Effect of Xiaochuanping powder on the inflammatory response and airway remodeling in asthmatic rats

OBJECTIVE： To observe the effect of Xiaochuanping powder （XP）, a traditional Chinese prescrip- tion for the treatment of cough and asthma, on serum concentrations of eosinophil cationic protein （ECP）, tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-a, and interleu- kin （IL）-4, eosinophil counts, as well as expression of matrix metalloproteinase （MMP）-9, tissue inhibi- tor of metalloproteinase （TIMP）-I in the lung tissues of asthmatic rats. METHODS： Sixty clean-grade Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into six groups： normal control （NC）, asthma model, Guilong Kechuanning （GK） group, as well as high, intermediate-, and lowdose XP groups. Rats were sensitized with ovalbu- min （OVA） to trigger asthma. Serum concentrations of ECP, TNF-a and IL-4, eosinophil counts, as well as expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in lung tissues were evaluated using an immunofluorescence method, mRNA expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was determined using real-time quantitative poly- merase chain reaction. RESULTS： Compared with the asthma-model group, serum concentrations of ECP, TNF-a, and IL-4, and eosinophil counts decreased significantly in the high- and intermediate-dose XP groups and GK group （all P 〈 0.01）. Protein expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 decreased significantly in the high- and intermediate-dose XP groups and GK group （all P 〈 0.01）. Transcription of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA and the ratio of expression of MMP-9：TIMP-1 in lung tissue were significantly lower （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： XP can reduce TNF-a secretion, sup- press the infiltration/activation of eosinophils, re- duce serum concentrations of ECP and IL-4, reduce the protein and mRNA expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in lung tissue, and regulate the balance between expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1. In these ways, XP alleviated the inflammation and remodel- ing of the airways.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Xiaochuanping powder(XP), a traditional Chinese prescription for the treatment of cough and asthma, on serum concentrations of eosinophil cationic protein(ECP), tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, and interleukin(IL)-4, eosinophil counts, as well as expression of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase(TIMP)-1 in the lung tissues of asthmatic rats.METHODS: Sixty clean-grade Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into six groups: normal control(NC), asthma model, Guilong Kechuanning(GK)group, as well as high-, intermediate-, and lowdose XP groups. Rats were sensitized with ovalbumin(OVA) to trigger asthma. Serum concentrations of ECP, TNF-α and IL-4, eosinophil counts, as well as expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in lung tissues were evaluated using an immunofluorescence method. m RNA expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was determined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS: Compared with the asthma-model group, serum concentrations of ECP, TNF-α, and IL-4, and eosinophil counts decreased significantly in the high-and intermediate-dose XP groups and GK group(all P < 0.01). Protein expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 decreased significantly in the high-and intermediate-dose XP groups and GK group(all P < 0.01). Transcription of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 m RNA and the ratio of expression of MMP-9: TIMP-1 in lung tissue were significantly lower(P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: XP can reduce TNF-α secretion, suppress the infiltration/activation of eosinophils, reduce serum concentrations of ECP and IL-4, reduce the protein and m RNA expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in lung tissue, and regulate the balance between expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1. In these ways, XP alleviated the inflammation and remodeling of the airways.