Effects of Huobahuagen tablet on the anti-inflammatory mechanism and the expression of interleukin-5 receptor mRNA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthmatic guinea pigs

AIM To investigate the effects of Huobahuagen tablet on the anti-inflammatory mechanism evenly and the expression of interleukin-5 (I L-5) receptor mRNA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asthmatic guinea p igs. METHODS Thirty-two healthy guinea pigs were divided into fo ur groups randomly control group, asthma group, dexamethasone therapy group and Huobahuagen tablet therapy group. The guinea pigs of the three latter groups wer e made models of asthmatic guinea pig. We measured total cell number and cell cl assification of BALF of guinea pigs. Then pulmonary histopathologic examination was performed. Finally, we performed semi-quantitative analysis of reverse tran scription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of IL-5 receptor mRNA in BALF. RESULTS Compared with control group and asthmatic group, the numb er of eosinophil (Eos) of BALF in Huobahuagen tablet therapy group was significa ntly lower, P0 05 and P0 01, respectively. Though there were hyper emia and edema in pulmonary histopathologic slices of the Huobahuagen tablet the rapy group, the number of Eos infiltration in them was less than that in pulmonary hist opathologic slices of the asthmatic group. The semi-quantitative analysis of RT -PCR IL-5 receptor mRNA in BALF was significantly higher in the Huobahuagen t ablet therapy group, than in normal control and asthmatic groups, P0 01. CONCLUSION The Huobahuagen tablet can significantly inhabit the n umber of Eos in the airway of guinea pigs, and this research can be an elementar y theoretic foundation for the clinical therapy of asthma in the future.