Influences of Dan Shao Hua Xian Fang on nuclear factor-κB expression and oxidative stress in rats with pulmonary fibrosis

Objective To observe the changes of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB),superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA) in rats with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis,and the influences of Dan Shao Hua Xian Fang.Methods SD rats(n=30) were randomly divided into the normal group,model group and treatment group(each n=10).The normal group was intratracheally given instillation of normal saline solution,and model group and treatment group were intratracheally given once perfusion of bleomycin(5 mg/kg) for inducing pulmonary fibrosis.On the second day of modeling,the treatment group was intragastrically given Dan Shao Hua Xian Fang(0.8 g/kg),and the normal group and model group were intragastrically given the same amount of normal saline solution.On the 28th day of the test,all rats were weighed and then killed.The wet weight of lung was weighed and lung tissue were collected.The pulmonary pathological changes were observed by using HE staining and Masson staining.The changes of hydroxyproline(HYP),SOD and MDA were determined by using chromatoptometry,and the expression of NF-κB were detected by using immunohistochemistry assay.Results Compared with the normal group,the level of MDA and expression of NF-κB increased significantly and the activity of SOD decreased significantly in the model group.Compared with the model group,in the treatment group the level of MDA and expression of NF-κB decreased significantly but were still higher than those in the normal group.The activity of SOD rose again but had not reached normal level.Conclusion The early administration of Dan Shao Hua Xian Fang can alleviate to a certain extent the alveoli inflammatory reaction induced by bleomycin and pulmonary fibrosis development,so it has therapeutic effect on pulmonary fibrosis.The mechanism may be related to that Dan Shao Hua Xian Fang can improve the activity of SOD,antagonize oxidative stress,inhibit the expression of NF-κB and alleviate alveoli inflammatory.