Effect of two herb ingredients on airway remodeling in asthmatic rats

Objective To explore the effect of two herb ingredients(baicalin,ligustrazine)on airway remodeling and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1)in asthmatic rats. Methods Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups:normal control group(n=6),asthmatic model group(n=6),baicalin group(n=6),ligustrazine group(n=6).The rats were sensitized with ovalbumin to establish the asthma model.Lung tissues were sliced and stained with HE.The airway wall and airway smooth muscle thickness were measured by image analysis system.The expression of MMP-9,TIMP-1 and collagen type Ⅳ in lung tissues was observed by immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with normal control group,the thickness of airway wall and airway smooth muscle in asthmatic model group significant thickened,and the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 significantly increased(P0.05).Compared with asthmatic model group,the thickness of airway wall and airway smooth muscle in baicalin group and ligustrazine group significantly thinned,and the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 significantly decreased(P0.05). Conclusion Both baicalin and ligustrazine could decrease the deposition of collagen type Ⅳ and reduce the airway smooth muscle thickness by influencing the balance between MMP-9 and TIMP-1.