Protective and immunomodulatory effect of Gingyo-san in a murine model of acute lung inflammation.

To investigate the effects of Gingyo-san (GGS), the traditional Chinese medicinal formula, on the acute lung inflammation induced by LPS in vivo, mice were challenged with intratracheal LPS before treatment with GGS or vehicle. In lung morphology, GGS reduced the infiltration of activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils in the airways, decreased pulmonary edema, reduced nitrosative stress, and improved lung morphology. ELISA or RT-PCR detected the expression of cytokines in BALF and lung tissue. The mechanism of these benefits by treatment with GGS including attenuating expression TNFalpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, KC, MCP-1, MIP-2, iNOS, and activation of nuclear factor (NF-kappaB and AP-1) in BALF and lung tissue. Particularly, GGS also enhanced the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) and limited the acute lung inflammation. Therefore, its protection activity against LPS-induced lung inflammatory mediators release might be beneficial in the treatment of endotoxin-associated inflammation.