Study Of Intervention Effects Of Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction On Airways Inflammation Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Rats

Objective To observe the protective effects of Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction(GXBD) on airway inflammation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),and investigate its mechanism initially.Methods The rat models of COPD were established by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide(LPS) twice and exposure to cigarette smoke daily.The effects of GXBD on COPD rats were approached by observing general status(such as body weight,movement and respiration, et al) and observing the changes in pathomorhology under light micrioscope.Total and differential cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids(BALF) were examined.The levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in(BALF) or serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays technique(ELISA).Results After GXBD treatment,the weight of COPD rats increased significantly,movement increased and breath improved.HE staining demonstrated that the characteristics of these groups were lighter than modol group.The thickness of the middle and small airway wall of COPD rats was inhibited by GXBD.Compared with model group,the average area of alveoli in high and low dosage of GXBD groups decreased significantly(p＜0.01).The numbers of total white cell counts, neutrophils and alveolar monocyte-macrophage in BALF after GXBD intervention were significantly lower than COPD rats(P＜0.01).The levels of IL-8,TNF-αin BALE or serum were decreased in the high and low dosage of GXBD groups than COPD group(P＜0.01 or p＜0.05).Conclusion IL-8 and TNF-αmight play important roles in the airway inflammation of COPD.Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction might partly prevent the development of airway inflammation in COPD by inhibiting the neutrophils accumulation in the lung and reducing the release of IL-8 and TNF-α.