Effects Of Epimedium Grandiflorum Morr. On β-Defensin-2 And Related Immune Indexs In Rat Lungs After Tracheostomy

Objective:To evaluate the effects of Epimedium grandiflorum Morr. on β-defensin-2, an important local immune defense marker in lung, in lungs of rats that have undergone tracheostomy.Methods:Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into placebo-controlled healthy rats (Group-A), placebo-controlled model with tracheostomy (Group-B), and epimedium-treated model with tracheostomy (Group-C), (n= 24 rats/group). Animals in respective groups received placebo (normal saline) or epimedium treatment 6 h after modeling. Pulmonary and peripheral blood samples from 8 rats per group were collected 24 h,72 h, and 168 h after tracheostomy to detect rat β-defensin-2 (rBD2) mRNA expression and interleukin-2 (IL-2), and T cell subsets (CD3+、CD4+ and CD8+) counts.Results:1. rBD2 mRNA expression in rat pulmonary tissues was significantly increased at 24-h after modeling the rats in Group-B, which significantly declined at 72-h and reaching minimal expression at 168-h. In pulmonary tissues, rBD2 mRNA expression of epimedium-treated rats in Group-C was significantly increased at 24-h, peaked at 72-h, and declined at 168-h after modeling; nevertheless, rBD2 mRNA expression at 168-h was still higher than Group-A and Group-B animals.2. Peripheral sera IL-2 and peripheral blood CD4+ T cells were not changed following tracheostomy but significantly increased with epimedium treatment in a time-dependent manner with maximal peak levels at 168-h.3. CD3+ T cells in peripheral blood significant declined at 24-h after tracheostomy but restored at 72-h to normal levels as in Group-A and had no change thereafter; while CD3+ T cells in peripheral blood of Group-C were significantly increased at 24-h, restored at 72-h to normal levels as in Group-A, and had no change thereafter.4. CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood were unchanged after tracheostomy but significantly declined at 168-h after epimedium treatment.5. Group B and C rats weight gradually decline, And the weight of group B rats decreased faster than that of C group. The lungs appear different degree of pathological changes after modeling.Conclusion:1.The immune function in rats model with tracheotomy intubation by one-time epidural catheter changes is given priority to with local lung function decline, and this change may be associated with lung injury after gas cutting and malnutrition.2. Epimedium not only can significantly improve the tracheostomy tube indwelling rat lungs local immune defenses, can also improve the body’s immune function.