OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Salvia combined with Ligustrazine on the TNF-α and TGF-β1 in sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of rats with pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin (BLM). METHODS: Male SD rats (n=90) were randomly assigned into 6 groups: normal saline (NS) group, BLM group, dexamethasone (DXM) group and three Chinese traditional herbal groups (C1: small dose group, C2: medium dose group, C3: large dose group). Rats were challenged intratracheally with BLM to establish pulmonary fibrosis rat models, while the NS group with 0.9% NaCl solution. Rats were given intra-peritoneal injections of normal saline (both the NS group and the BLM group), dexamethasone (the DXM group), or Salvia combined with Ligustrazine (the C1, C2, C3 groups). At the same time, 5 rats from the 6 groups were sacrificed at day 7, 14 and 28 after administration respectively. HE and Masson staining were performed to observe the extent of alveolitis and fibrosis; the levels of TNF-α and TGF-β1 in both sera and BALF were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with NS group, a great deal of inflammatory cell infiltration into the alveolar was observed in BLM group at day 7, the alveolitis was lessened at day 14, while fibrosis was found; at day 28, the alveolitis became relieved and the fibrosis developed seriously. The extent of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis in DXM group was milder than that in BLM group at day 7, 14 and 28 (P<0.05). Compared with BLM group, the extent of pulmonary fibrosis in group C1 didn't remarkably change (P>0.05). The extent of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis in group C2 and C3 was significantly milder than that in BLM group at day 14, and the extent of pulmonary fibrosis in group C2 and C3 was remarkably reduced at day 28 (P<0.05). Compared with NS group, the levels of TNF-α and TGF-β1 in both sera and BALF of the other groups were obviously higher (P<0.05). Compared with BLM group, the levels in DXM, C2 and C3 groups were lower at day 7, 14, 28 (P<0.05). Compared with DXM group, the levels in C1, C2 and C3 groups were lower at day 7, 14, 28 (P<0.05), and the difference between C2 and C3 groups was statistically significant (P>0.05). The levels of of TNF-α and TGF-β1 were consistent in rat sera and BALF. CONCLUSION: Medium and large doses of Salvia combined with Ligustrazine could abate the alveolitis and ameliorate the extent of pulmonary fibrosis by decreasing the levels of TNF-α and TGF-β1 in both serum and BALF.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Salvia combined with Ligustrazine on the TNF-α and TGF-β1 in sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of rats with pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin (BLM). METHODS: Male SD rats (n=90) were randomly assigned into 6 groups: normal saline (NS) group, BLM group, dexamethasone (DXM) group and three Chinese traditional herbal groups (C1: small dose group, C2: medium dose group, C3: large dose group). Rats were challenged intratracheally with BLM to establish pulmonary fibrosisrat models, while the NS group with 0.9% NaCl solution. Rats were given intra-peritoneal injections of normal saline (both the NS group and the BLM group), dexamethasone (the DXM group), or Salvia combined with Ligustrazine (the C1, C2, C3 groups). At the same time, 5 rats from the 6 groups were sacrificed at day 7, 14 and 28 after administration respectively. HE and Masson staining were performed to observe the extent of alveolitis and fibrosis; the levels of TNF-α and TGF-β1 in both sera and BALF were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with NS group, a great deal of inflammatory cell infiltration into the alveolar was observed in BLM group at day 7, the alveolitis was lessened at day 14, while fibrosis was found; at day 28, the alveolitis became relieved and the fibrosis developed seriously. The extent of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis in DXM group was milder than that in BLM group at day 7, 14 and 28 (P<0.05). Compared with BLM group, the extent of pulmonary fibrosis in group C1 didn't remarkably change (P>0.05). The extent of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis in group C2 and C3 was significantly milder than that in BLM group at day 14, and the extent of pulmonary fibrosis in group C2 and C3 was remarkably reduced at day 28 (P<0.05). Compared with NS group, the levels of TNF-α and TGF-β1 in both sera and BALF of the other groups were obviously higher (P<0.05). Compared with BLM group, the levels in DXM, C2 and C3 groups were lower at day 7, 14, 28 (P<0.05). Compared with DXM group, the levels in C1, C2 and C3 groups were lower at day 7, 14, 28 (P<0.05), and the difference between C2 and C3 groups was statistically significant (P>0.05). The levels of of TNF-α and TGF-β1 were consistent in rat sera and BALF. CONCLUSION: Medium and large doses of Salvia combined with Ligustrazine could abate the alveolitis and ameliorate the extent of pulmonary fibrosis by decreasing the levels of TNF-α and TGF-β1 in both serum and BALF.