The Effect Of Ligustrazine On Eotaxin And Th2 Cytokines In Asthmatic Rats

Objective:To explore the effects of Ligustrazine on eotaxin and Th2 cytokines expression and airway inflammation in a rat model of bronchial asthma.Methods: Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 experimental groups(10 in each): normal control group(A group), asthmatic model group(B group), dexamethasone group(C group), low-dose of Ligustrazine group (D group), high-dose of Ligustrazine group (E group), combinative therapy group(F group).The asthmatic model was established by repeated inhalation of ovalbulium. The levers of IL-4 and IL-13 in BALF and serum were measured by ELISA.The expression of eotaxin in the lung tissues was observed by means of immunohistochemical staining. Differential leukocytes counts in BALF were performed after staining with Wright staining. The eosinophil (EOS) amounts in BALF,bronchi wall and serum were counted .Results: (1) The IL-4 and IL-13 levers were much higher(P<0.001) in BALF and serum in B group than that in A group.The IL-4 and IL-13 levers in each treatment group were significantly lower than that in B group,but were higher than that in A group(P<0.05), but E group and F group had no significant difference with that in C group(P>0.05). The IL-4 level in BALF and serum in E group had no significant difference with that in D group(P>0.05),The IL-13 in BALF and serum in E group was lower than that in D group(P<0.05), (2) There was a significant increase in expression of eotaxin in the bronchial epithelial cells and the cells in alveolus in B group compared with that in A group(P<0.001).The expression of eotaxin in each Ligustrazine group was much lower than that in B group(P<0.001), but E group and F group had no significant difference with C group. (P>0.05) but E group was lower than that in D group (P<0.05).(3) The EOS amounts in serum,bronchi wall and BALF in each Ligustrazine group were much lower than that in B group(P<0.001), E group had no significant difference with C and F group. And E group had no significant difference with D group (P>0.05).Conclusions: Ligustrazine can inhabit the expression of Th2 cytokines (such as IL-4 and IL-13), inhabit the expression of eotaxin and decrease airway inflammation in asthmatic rats. At least, Ligustrazine can take the place of some effect of glucocorticoids in treating asthma, and reduce some side effect of glucocorticoids.