The protection of lianhuaqingwen against acute radiation-induced lung injury in rats

Objective To investigate the radioprotective function of lianhuaqingwen (LHQW) in rat acute radiation-induced lung injury.Methods Totally 36 female Wistar rats were randomized into 3 groups as administered group (treated by LHQW plus radiation),radiation group irradiated with a single of 20 Gy in 6 MV X-ray by Elekta Synergy VMAT,and blank control group without radiation.Performance status (PS) was estimated during 31 d of LHQW instragastric administration.After rats being sacrificed at 1,14,28 d of LHQW adminstration,the pathomorphological changes were observed in trauma lung tissue,the cell number in BALF (Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) was counted,the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum were measured by ELISA,and TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expressions in lung tissue were assayed by RT-PCR.Results After LHQW treatment,the PS of rat was significantly elevated with less inflammation in morphous,and the cell number in BALF was markedly decreased in compare with radiation alone group.Furthermore,the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were obviously reduced (tTNF-α =7.372,2.891,tIL-6 =6.335,3.257,P ＜ 0.05) and the TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA levels in lung tissue were also decreased (tTNF-αmRNA =3.714,2.144,tIL-6mRNA =3.589,2.883,P＜0.05).Conclusions LHQW plays a protective role against acute radiation-induced lung injury in rats and the down-expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 may be involved. Key words: Acute radiation-induced lung injury;  Lianhuaqingwen capsule;  Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) ;  Interleukin-6 (IL-6) ;  Protection