Effects of pathogenic wind-dampness on lung tissue cytokines in rats with syndrome due to pathogenic cold invading lung
- Author:
Wei ZHANG
;
Jingtao CAO
;
Haiyu LIU
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
Journal of Integrative Medicine
2008;6(7):748-51
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of wind and dampness pathogens on cytokines in the lung tissue of rats with cold syndrome due to different gradient cold pathogens. METHODS: One hundred and four Wistar rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into 13 groups: normal temperature group, six cold pathogen groups and six cold plus wind-dampness pathogen (wind of grade 5 and 90%-100% relative humidity) groups. The cold pathogens were constant low temperature (including 10 degrees C, 0 degree C, -10 degrees C) and temperature change (including 20 to 10 degrees C, 20 to 0 degrees C, and 20 to -10 degrees C). The rats in different groups were kept in a temperature-controlled box under the corresponding condition for 2 hours on the first day of experiment. Then, the rats were all raised in normal temperature for 4 days and the rats' behaviors were observed. The contents of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6(IL-6) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in lung homogenate were measured by radioimmunoassay and the content of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: In comparison with cold pathogen groups, contents of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-4 were obviously increased in lung homogenate of rats in cold plus wind-dampness pathogen groups (P<0.01), and the content of IFN-gamma and IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio were obviously decreased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Wind-dampness pathogen can seriously aggravate the injury to lung tissue caused by cold pathogen, and the unbalance of Th(1)/Th(2) in lung homogenate of rats.
