OBJECTIVETo study the prevention & treatment effect of cordyceps sinensi on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in mice.

METHODRats were divided into 4 groups. In BM group (model), pulmonary interstitial fibrosis model was established through nasal dripping of 5 mg x kg(-1) bleomycin. In PCT group (prevention & treatment with cordyceps sinensi), cordyceps sinensi was orally administered 48 h before bleomycin dripping. In CT group (treatment with cordyceps sinensi), cordyceps sinensi was orally administered at 14 d after bleomycin dripping, and NC group (normal mice, control). At 28 d, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were collected, right lung received HE staining and masson staining, the change in cell micro-structure was observed under electron microscope, the hydroxyproline (HYP) content in lung tissue of left lung was detected through acidolysis method, and TGF-beta1, IFN-gamma and IL-4 concentration in BALF was detected through ELISA.

RESULTCompared with those in BM group, mouse lung coefficient decreased significantly (P < 0.05), alveolitis and fibrosis degree improved significantly in PCT and CT groups (P < 0.05), HYP content in lung decreased (P < 0.05). TGF-beta1 and 1L-4 content in BALF decreased significantly in each drug intervention group, IFN-gamma content increased significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe cordyceps sinensi can alleviate bleomycin-induced alveolitis and fibrosis degree in a certain degree. The mechanism of the alleviation is possibly due to its inhibition of TGF-beta1 expression and its regulation of imbalance of the type I and II cytokine in lung tissue.