[Effects of Yiqiyangyin recipe on the mRNA levels of TNF-α, TGF-β1 and IFN-γ of lungs in rats with pulmonary interstitial fibrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Yiqiyangyin recipe on lung tissue morphological structure and mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in pulmonary interstitial fibrosis rat models.

METHODS: The pulmonary interstitial fibrosis rat model was established by intrabronchial injection of bleomycin A5. After the model was set up, the rats were divided randomly into five groups, normal group, model group, prednisone acetate group, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) group, and TCM plus prednisone acetate group. Twenty-eight days after modeling, all groups were subjected to gavage for another 28 days. Then the animals were executed in batch. Their lung tissues were separated and observed with HE staining and Masson staining. The mRNA levels of TNF-α, TGF-β1 and IFN-γ were detected using in situ hybridization.

RESULTS: The levels of TNF-α and TGF-β1 mRNAs were enhanced and IFN-γ mRNA was weakened in the model group as compared with the other groups at the same time points. Compared with the prednisone acetate group and the TCM plus prednisone acetate group, the expression of TNF-α mRNA was reduced and IFN-γ mRNA was raised a little in the TCM group at the same time points. Compared with the prednisone acetate group at the same time points, the level of TGF-β1 mRNA decreased slightly in the TCM group.

CONCLUSION: Yiqiyangyin recipe could delay pulmonary fibrosis by reducing the mRNA levels of TNF-α and TGF-β1 and increasing IFN-γ mRNA in lung tissues of pulmonary intestitial fibrosis rats.