Abstract:

Objective To explore the effect of extract of notopterygium (EN) on Th1/Th2 cells balance and signaling pathway p38 in the asthma mouse model. Methods Sixty male BABL/c mice were randomly divided into six groups with 10 mice per group: normal group, ovalbumin（OVA）group, notopterygium low dose group, notopterygium high dose group, SB203580 group and dexamethasone group. The left lung was isolated for pathological examination. Lung sections were stained with HE. The number of total cells and different inflammatory cells were counted by an optical microscope. The concentrations of interleukin(IL)-4，IL-5，IL-13 and interferon-γ(IFN-γ) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by ELISA. The Western blotting was performed to detect the IL-4, IFN-γ， P38 in lung tissue. Results In OVA group, the number of total cells and inflammatory cells, the concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in BALF were significantly higher than those in normal group (P<0.05), but the concentration of IFN-γ in BALF was significantly lower than in normal group(P<0.05). Pulmonary inflammatory infiltration was more serious in OVA group than in normal group(P<0.05). IL-4 and phosphorylated P38 in lung tissue were significantly higher in OVA group than those in normal group (P<0.05), but IFN-γ level of lung tissue was significantly lower than in normal group (P<0.05). In notopterygium low and high dose groups, SB20358 group and dexamethasone group, the number of total cells and inflammatory cells, the concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in BALF and IL-4, phosphorylated P38 in lung tissue were significantly lower than those in OVA group (P<0.05), the level of IFN-γ in BALF and lung tissue was significantly higher than in OVA group (P<0.05); Notopterygium, SB20358 and dexamethasone significantly reduced pulmonary inflammatory infiltration(P<0.05). Conclusion All these results indicate the extract of notopterygium roots can inhibit the development of asthma in the mouse model, and its possible mechanism is that Th1/Th2 cells balance may be changed while p38 signaling pathway is inhibited.

Key words: Asthma, Notopterygium, P38 mitogen-activated protein kinases, ELISA, Western blotting, Mouse