The present study investigated the effect of active components of Descurainia sophia on allergic asthma and explored the underlying mechanism. SD male rats were randomly divided into a normal group(NC), a model group(M), a D. sophia decoction group(DS), a D. sophia fatty oil group(FO), a D. sophia flavonoid glycoside group(FG), a D. sophia oligosaccharide group(Oli), and a positive drug dexamethasone group(Y). The allergic asthma model was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin(OVA) and aluminum hydroxide gel adjuvant(sensitization) and atomization of OVA solution(excitation). After modeling, asthma-related indicators, tracheal phenol red excretion, inflammatory cell levels in the peripheral blood, lung permeability index(LPI), and oxygenation index(OI) of rats were detected. The pathological changes of lung tissues were observed by HE staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the content of inflammatory factors immunoglobulin E(IgE), interleukin-4(IL-4), and interferon-γ(IFN-γ) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) and the content of endothelin-1(ET-1) and angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE) in lung tissue homogenate. The serum content of nitric oxide(NO) was detected by colorimetry. Western blot was employed to determine the protein expression of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4), nuclear factor κB-p65(NF-κB-p65), phosphorylated NF-κB-p65(p-NF-κB-p65), myosin light chain kinase(MLCK), vascular endothelial cadherin(VE cadherin), connexin 43, and claudin 5, and the mechanism of active components of D. sophia on allergic asthma was explored. As revealed by the results, the M group showed extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells around the bronchus of the lung tissues of the allergic asthma rats, thickened bronchial wall, severely deformed alveolar structure, increased number of wheezes, the content of IgE, IL-4, ET-1, and ACE, inflammatory cells, and LPI, and reduced latency of asthma, tracheal phenol red excretion, IFN-γ, NO content, and OI. After the intervention of the active components of D. sophia, the DS, FO, FG, Oli, and Y groups showed improved asthma-related indicators, tracheal phenol red excretion, and lung tissue lesions in allergic asthma rats, and the effects in the FO and Oli groups were superior. The content of inflammatory factors in BALF was recovered in the DS, FO, and Y groups and the FG and Oli groups. The number of inflammatory cells in rats was reduced in the DS and FO groups, and the FG, Oli, and Y groups to varying degrees, and the effect in the FO group was superior. DS, FO, Oli, and Y reduced ET-1, ACE, and LPI and increased NO and OI. FG recovered NO, ET-1, ACE, LPI, and OI to improve lung epithelial damage and permeability. Further investigation of inflammation-related TLR4/NF-κB pathways, MLCK, and related skeleton protein levels showed that TLR4, NF-κB-p65, p-NF-κB-p65, and MLCK levels were increased, and VE cadherin, connexin 43, and claudin 5 were reduced in the M group. DS, FO, FG, Oli, and Y could reduce the protein expression related to the TLR4 pathway to varying degrees, and regulate the protein expression of MLCK, VE cadherin, connexin 43, and claudin 5. It is inferred that the active components of D. sophia improve lung permeability in rats with allergic asthma presumedly by regulating the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway to improve airway inflammation, mediating MLCK and connexin, and regulating epithelial damage.
Animals ; Asthma/drug therapy* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; Lung ; Male ; Permeability ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) in the migration of eosinophils (EOS) and to determine if AQP-1 can be viewed as the chemotactic activity marker of EOS.

METHODSAsthma model of guinea pigs were developed and EOS were purified from both peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The smears of EOS were studied by in situ hybridization for determining AQP1 mRNA and immunofluorescence under laser scanning confocal microscope for determining AQP1 protein.

RESULTSAQP1 was found expressed in EOS both from peripheral blood and from BALF. Compared with the expression of AQP1 mRNA (mean grey value 109.200 +/- 5.756, x +/- s) and protein (average fluorescence intensity 279.926 +/- 11.293) in EOS from BALF, there was stronger expression of AQP1 mRNA (92.904 +/- 3.290) and protein (425.081 +/- 17.474) in EOS from peripheral blood. The difference both of AQP1 mRNA (t = 9.519, P < 0.05) and protein(t = 27.020, P < 0.05) were considered statistically significant respectively.

CONCLUSIONSAQP1 plays a crucial role in EOS movement. It is possible that EOS produce more AQP1 protein to accelerate its migration to inflammatory tissues under allergic disease and EOS with AQP1 highly expressed are activated. AQP1 can be viewed as the chemotactic activity marker of EOS.

Animals ; Aquaporin 1 ; metabolism ; Asthma ; metabolism ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Eosinophils ; metabolism ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Silicon Dioxide ; adverse effects ; Silicosis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of composite grinding dusts on rat respiratory system.

METHODSRats were administrated with grinding dusts by intratracheal injection. After 2 weeks, the total numbers of cells, the percentage of differential cell, the survival rate of cell, and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were analyzed.

RESULTSAlong with increasing concentration of grinding dusts, the total number of cells in lavage also increased, and was more than that in quartz group. Compared with control group, the percentage of neutrophil in lavage of rats treated with grinding dust and quartz significantly increased and meanwhile that of macrophage significantly decreased[PMN: quartz group (33.83 +/- 4.54)%; grinding dusts group (26.50 +/- 3.99)%, (36.00 +/- 3.58)%, (38.00 +/- 2.10)% at 10, 25, 50 mg/ml respectively. Macrophages: quartz group (62.17 +/- 4.54)%; grinding dusts group (70.83 +/- 3.66)%, (60.83 +/- 2.14)%, (58.17 +/- 2.48)%] while those in control group were (2.83 +/- 0.75)%, (95.67 +/- 1.21)% respectively. The cell survival rate in lavage in control group was 80%, but that in grinding dust and TiO2 group significantly decreased(P < 0.01). The activity of LDH and ALP in all rats treated with dusts obviously increased, and there was significant difference compared with control group(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was significant difference between grinding dust group and quartz group, and between grinding dust group and TiO2 group respectively.

CONCLUSIONMetal grinding dust is very harmful to rat's lung cells and may cause fibrogenesis in the lungs.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Dust ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lung ; pathology ; Metals ; Rats

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; blood ; pathology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; metabolism ; Male

OBJECTIVETo study the changes to surfactant proteins in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) of children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) and their significance.

METHODSSelf-control method was used in the study. Forty-seven MPP children were divided into single lung infected (n=32) and bilateral lung infected groups (n=15) according to lung CT results. Surfactant proteins SP-A, B, C and D were measured using ELISA in the serum and BALF in the two groups. The correlations between SP-A, B, C and D content in the serum and BALF were evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis.

RESULTSSP-A, B, C and D content in BALF from the majorly infected or infected lung were significantly higher than from the opposite lung and serum (P<0.01). SP-A, B and C content in serum was significantly lower than in BALF from the non-infected lung in the single-side infected lung group (P<0.01 or 0.05), but there was no significant difference between serum SP-D content and BALF SP-D content from the non-infected lung. There were no significant differences in SP-A, B, C and D content in serum and BALF from the minorly infected lung in the bilateral lung infected group. Serum SP-D content was positively correlated with BALF SP-D content from the majorly infected lung in the bilateral lung infected group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSerum SP-D content may serve as a biomarker for evaluating the severity of pulmonary infection in children with community-acquired pneumonia.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; analysis ; blood

In order to ascertain the role of TNF-alpha in pulmonary tuberculosis, we determined the TNF-alpha productivity of alveolar macrophages(AMs) obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL), along with the level of TNF-alpha in the serum of patients with tuberculosis including pulmonary, miliary, and endobronchial tuberculosis, healthy controls, and pulmonary diseases such as diffuse interstitial lung disease (DILD) and pneumonia. AMs from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis did not produce a larger amount of TNF-alpha than did those from the healthy control subjects. However, among the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, the AMs from the fresh and reactivated groups produced a larger amount of TNF-alpha than those from the inactive group. AMs from patients showing positivity in culture produced a larger amount of TNF-alpha than those showing negativity. The average level of serum TNF-alpha in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was slightly higher than that of the healthy control group. Among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, significantly increased levels of serum TNF-alpha were noted in the reactivated group compared to those of the fresh and inactive group. Patients with moderate to far-advanced infiltration on their chest X-rays, showed a significantly higher level of serum TNF-alpha than those with minimal involvement on the chest X-ray. Smokers from the healthy control group showed a significantly higher level of serum TNF-alpha than non-smokers from the same group. These results suggest that an increase in the production of TNF-alpha may correspond with the severity of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/metabolism ; Humans ; Macrophages/metabolism ; Pulmonary Alveoli/metabolism ; Tuberculosis, Miliary/metabolism ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/etiology/*metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/*biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of repeated esophageal acid infusion on specific airway resistance (sRaw) and airway reactivity in the guinea pigs and explore the mechanism.

METHODSsRaw and airway reactivity were measured by double-chamber plethysmography in normal control group (group N), saline control group (group NS), and repeated acid irrigation group (group H). The initial measurement was used as the baseline sRaw and airway reactivity (1d1), and 2 h after the initial measurement, sRaw and airway reactivity were measured again (1d2). Similarly, such measurements were repeated on the 15th day for all the guinea pigs (15d1, 15d2) with a 2-h interval. The content of Substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in lung tissue, trachea, BALF and ganglion were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSThe percent change of sRaw, (15d2-1d1)/1d1 in group H was significantly higher than that in group N. The differences in the airway reactivity of the group N, group NS, and group H were not statistically significant. The SP content in the lung, trachea, ganglion and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in group H was significantly higher than those in group N. The SP content in ganglion showed a significant positive correlation to that in the trachea. No significant differences were found in the VIP content in the lung, trachea, ganglion or BALF between the groups.

CONCLUSIONRepeated esophageal acid infusion increases the airway resistance, but not the airway reactivity in normal guinea pigs. SP may be involved in development of high sRaw through the esophageal-tracheobronchial reflex.

Airway Resistance ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Esophagus ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Guinea Pigs ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Respiratory System ; Substance P ; metabolism ; Trachea ; metabolism ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism

Adult ; Aged ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Chemokine CCL3 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Silicosis ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic changes in the expression of clara cell protein (CC16) and surfactant protein D (SP-D) in the lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of silica-treated rats.

METHODSEighty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (n = 42) and silica group (n = 42). The silica group was subsequently divided into 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 60 d subgroups. The silicotic model was made by instilling silica suspension directly through the trachea into rat lungs. At 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 60 d after silica instillation, 8 rats in each group were sacrificed and their lung tissues and BALF were collected. The expression of SP-D and CC16 in lung tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of SP-D and CCl6 in BALF.

RESULTSThe immunohistochemical assay indicated that CCl6 and SP-D were expressed in lung cells. The ELISA found that in 7, 14, 21, 28, and 60 d silica subgroups, the content of CCl6 in rat BALF was 8.14±0.70, 7.15±0.66, 7.00±0.69, 6.34 ± 0.59, and 5.27±0.49 ng/L, respectively; CCl6 expression decreased gradually with the silica exposure time prolonged, indicating a negative correlation (ra = -0.953, P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, all silica subgroups had significantly decreased CCl6 levels (P < 0.05). The content of SP-D in BALF was 12.20 ± 1.57, 14.41 ± 0.65, and 12.18 ± 0.74 ng/L, respectively, in the 7, 14, and 21 d silica subgroups, significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe dynamic changes in SP-D and CCl6 protein levels in the lung tissues and BALF of rats could be induced by silica exposure and are related to silica exposure time. With the extension of silica exposure, CCl6 levels are gradually reduced, while the SP-D levels first increase and then fall.

Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Silicon Dioxide ; toxicity ; Uteroglobin ; metabolism