Effect of Yiqi Huoxue Recipe on the Expression of TGF-β_1 and γ-IFN in Rats with Radiation-induced Lung Injury

Objective To observe the effect of Yiqi Huoxue Recipe on the expression of TGF-β1 and γ-IFN in rats with radiation-induced lung injury in different radiation time, and discuss the prevention and curative effect of Yiqi Huoxue Recipe and its possible action mechanism. Methods One hundred and twenty Wistar rats were randomly allocated into irradiation group (n =30), irradiation with Yiqi Huoxue Recipe-treated group (n =30), irradiation with ambroxol-treated group (n =30) and normal control group (n =6). The former three groups were irradiated at right hemithorax with a dose of 30 Gy (5 Gy per week). Animals were followed for 26 weeks after the first irradiation. The levels of serum TGF-β1 and γ-IFN of 6 rats in each group were assayed by ELISA at the end of 4th, 6th, 8th, 12th and 26th week after the first irradiation. Results In Yiqi Huoxue Recipe-treated group, the levels of serum TGF-β1 were significantly lower from the 4th week than that of the irradiation group (P0.05), while the levels of serum γ-IFN were significantly higher from the 4th week than that of the irradiation group (P0.05). And in ambroxol-treated group, the levels of serum TGF-β1 and γ-IFN were similar to that of Yiqi Huoxue Recipe-treated group (P 0.05). Conclusion Yiqi Huoxue Recipe can inhibit the excretion of TGF-β1 and promote the excretion of γ-IFN. It suggested that Yiqi Huoxue Recipe might play an important role in the prevention and curation of radiation-induced lung injury.