OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Huangqi Jiegeng Decoction (HJD) and Huangqi Huanglian Decoction (HHD) on the intercellular adhesion molecule-I (ICAM-1) content in the lung and colon of rats with Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODSTotally 56 rats were used to establish the CD rat model using TNBS water solution/absolute alcohol enema (with the model successful rate of 63.0%). Seven rats randomly selected from 35 successfully modeled rats and from the normal group were recruited as the model group and the normal group before intervention. The rest 28 successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group, the Western medicine group (treated with salazosulfapyridine at 0.4 g/kg), the HJD group (20.5 g/kg), and the HHD group (20.8 g/kg), 7 in each group. Another 7 normal rats were recruited as the normal group. Equal volume of pure water was given to rats in the normal group and the model group by gastrogavage, twice daily, for 3 successive weeks. The protein and mRNA expressions of ICAM-1 in the lung and colon tissues were determined before and after intervention using Western blot and RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the protein and mRNA levels of ICAM-1 in the colon tissue, and the mRNA level of ICAM-1 in the lung tissue increased (P< 0.01, P<0.05). After intervention the protein and mRNA levels of ICAM-1 in the colon tissue and the lung tissue increased (P<0.01) in the model group. Compared with the model group at the same time point, the protein and mRNA levels of ICAM-1 in the colon tissue and the lung tissue decreased in each medication group after intervention (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the Western medicine group, the protein level of ICAM-1 in the lung tissue decreased more significantly in the HJD group (P<0.05). The protein level of ICAM-1 in the colon tissue also decreased in the HHD group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHHD and HJD both could down-regulate the over-expressed ICAM-1 in the lung and colon tissues of CD rats. HHD was prominent in inhibiting the adherence of colonic inflammatory cells and attenuating local immunopathological injury. HJD was prominent in attenuating inflammation and injury in the lung, and preventing pulmonary fibrosis.