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Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine ›› 2012, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (7): 807-813.doi: 10.3736/jcim20120712

• Original Experimental Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Pingchuan Formula on airway inflammation, interferon-γ and interleukin-4 in mice with asthma

Yi-tao Zhao1,2, Xin-guang Zhang1,3, Li Bai1,3, Li-qing Li1,3, Jian-er Yu1,3()   

  1. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200071, China
    2. Department of Pediatrics, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong Province, China
    3. Pediatric Institute of Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine Academy, Shanghai 200071, China
  • Received:2011-11-02 Accepted:2011-12-05 Online:2012-07-20 Published:2018-07-15
  • Contact: Jian-er Yu E-mail:jianeryu@hotmail.com

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Objective: To observe the changes of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), factors related to T helper 1/T helper 2 (Th1/Th2), in airway inflammation in an asthmatic model of mice and the effects of Pingchuan Formula (PCF), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine.
Methods: Eighty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, dexamethasone group and PCF group, with 20 mice in each group. For inducing asthma, the BALB/c mice were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of mixed ovalbumin, and then activated by inhaling ovalbumin. After 2 weeks of sensitizing, asthmatic mice were intragastrically administered with the drugs once a day for four weeks. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were collected respectively after 7-day activation or 2 weeks after activation. The general histological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and collagen staining, meanwhile the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in BALF were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: After 7 d of activation, compared with the normal group, significant decrease in IFN-γ and increase in IL-4 were detected in the model group; compared with the model group, IL-4 level of the two treated groups was decreased and the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was increased significantly; no significant difference was found between the two treated groups. Two weeks after activation, compared with the normal group, IFN-γ was decreased, IL-4 was increased, and the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was decreased in the model group; compared with the model group, IL-4 level in the dexamethasone group was significantly decreased and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was significantly elevated, while the level of IL-4 in the PCF group was significantly decreased, the level of IFN-γ was increased simultaneously, and the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was significantly elevated. There was no significant difference between the two treated groups in IFN-γ and IL-4 levels, nor in the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio. The area of collagen fiber in airway wall epithelium in the model group was smaller than that in the normal group, and those in the treated groups were lower than that in the model group; there was no significant difference between the two treated groups.
Conclusion: PCF has regulating function in correcting the imbalance of Th1/Th2 so as to improve airway inflammation. The therapeutic effects of PCF are basically similar to dexamethasone.

Key words: bronchial asthma, drugs, Chinese herbal, interferon-γ, interleukin-4, Th1 cells, Th2 cells, mice

Figure 1

Pathological changes in lung tissue after 7-day activation observed by HE staining (Light microscopy, ×200) A: Normal group; B: Model group; C: Dexamethasone group; D: Pingchuan Formula group."

Figure 2

Pathological changes in lung tissue 2 weeks after activation observed by HE staining (Light microscopy, ×200) A: Normal group; B: Model group; C: Dexamethasone group; D: Pingchuan Formula group."

Figure 3

Pathological changes in lung tissue after 7-day activation observed by collagen staining (Light microscopy, ×200) A: Normal group; B: Model group; C: Dexamethasone group; D: Pingchuan Formula group."

Figure 4

Pathological changes in lung tissue 2 weeks after activation observed by collagen staining (Light microscopy, ×200) A: Normal group; B: Model group; C: Dexamethasone group; D: Pingchuan Formula group."

Table 1

The analysis of collagen-stained picture in lung tissue of BALB/c mice (x±s)"

Group n Collagen area (mm2) Optical density (J/mm2) Integrated optical density (J)
Activation 7 d 2 weeks after
activation		 Activation 7 d 2 weeks after
activation		 Activation 7 d 2 weeks after
activation
Normal 10 480.71±214.58 527.56±230.23 0.13±0.03 0.16±0.02 64.24±35.14 84.85±40.46
Model 10 4 784.62±
2 336.15▲▲		 8 200.99±
3 741.15▲		 0.17±0.02** 0.18±0.03 824.02±
403.88▲▲		 1 366.02±
525.78▲▲
DXM 10 1 518.62±
649.04▲▲□□		 2 280.76±
811.85▲▲□□		 0.15±0.03△ 0.15±0.02 216.90±
76.33▲▲□□		 354.38±
145.03▲▲□□
PCF 10 1 358.84±
251.40▲▲□□		 2 116.10±
822.23▲▲□□		 0.13±0.02△△ 0.16±0.02 177.07±
29.56▲▲□□		 321.75±
104.19▲▲□□

Table 2

Levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in BALF of BALB/c mice (x±s)"

Group n Interferon-γ (ng/L) Iterleukin-4 (ng/L) Interferon-γ/iterleukin-4
Activation 7 d 2 weeks after
activation		 Activation 7 d 2 weeks after
activation		 Activation 7 d 2 weeks after
activation
Normal 10 16.57±4.72 18.03±2.46 1.46±0.17 1.50±0.43 11.48±3.65 12.13±3.20
Model 10 10.11±5.56** 14.04±2.14** 2.13±0.55** 3.12±0.78** 4.89±3.20** 4.80±1.59**
DXM 10 12.41±2.06* 14.53±1.74** 1.65±0.56△ 1.73±1.03△△ 8.50±3.46△ 9.20±3.86△△
PCF 10 14.35±3.98△ 16.23±2.60△ 1.57±0.33△△ 2.07±0.74△△ 9.68±4.02△△ 9.07±4.78△
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