| Aim: to investigate the effects of artesunate on lung tissue injury,mean number of Pneumocystis carinii cysts and Toll-2 m RNA expression in rats.Methods: the experiment was divided into four groups: A group of rats with normal immune function,B group of rats with normal immune function stimulated by PC,C group of PCP model and D group of artesunate treatment.The animal model of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was induced by dexamethasone.The expression of Toll-2 m RNA,the pathological changes of lung tissue and the mean number of Pneumocystis carinii cysts were detected in each group.Results: there was no significant difference in the expression of Toll-2m RNA between group An and B,but the expression of Toll-2 m RNA in group C and D was significantly lower than that in group An and B,and the expression of Toll-2 m RNA in group C was significantly lower than that in group D(P < 0.05).The expression of Toll-2 m RNA was negatively correlated with pulmonary inflammation and the degree of pneumocystis infection.Conclusion: 1.Artesunate could significantly reduce the inflammatory reaction and the average number of Pneumocystis carinii cysts in rats with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.2.Artesunate may improve pulmonary inflammation and inhibit Pneumocystis carinii by stimulating the expression of Toll-2 m RNA in rat lung. |
