Aim To explore the potential mechanism of ulinastatin’s antioxidant effect by examining the Nrf2 /HO-1 pathway.Methods OVA-induced asthma of mice was cured by intraperitoneal injection of ulinas-tatin (1 00 kU·kg -1 ·d -1 ).Control mice were given the same volume of PBS (pH 7.4).To investigate the effect of ulinastatin on airway hyperresponsiveness, levels of interleukin IL-4,IFN-γand OVA specific IgE in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The content of ROS from BALF of mice was tested in double hydrogen rhodamine (DHR)-1 23 method.The level of protein carbonyl and MDA from lung tissue of mice was detected with Protein carbonyl content assay kit and MDA kit.And antioxidative enzyme in mice BALF was tested by antioxidant enzyme kit.The levels of HO-1 in lung tissue from mice were detected by Western blot and Real-time PCR.Nuclear transfer and binding activity of Nrf2 were tested respectively by Western blot,IF and EMSA.Results Ulinastatin could alleviate the airway hyperresponsiveness,dis-tinctly reduce the content of IL-4,OVA specific IgE, ROS,protein carbonyl and MDA,but upraise the ex-pression of IFN-γand antioxidative enzyme such as SOD,GSH and TAOC. Moreover, the antioxidant effect of ulinastatin could be reversed by Znpp,which was the inhibitor of HO-1 .Ulinastatin could obviously induce the expression of HO-1 in protein level in a dose-and time-dependent manner.Ulinastatin could also induce the nuclear transfer of Nrf2 and increase the binding activity of Nrf2 as well as the expression of HO-1 in gene level;Conclusion Ulinastatin could induce the activation of Nrf2 /HO-1 pathway,which may contribute to the protective effects of ulinastatin a-gainst OVA-induced oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammation effects of Xuebijing in OVA-induced murine allergic rhinitis model. Furthermore, we determined whether heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is required for the protective activity of Xuebijing. METHOD: Airways of OVA-sensitized mice exposed to OVA challenge developed eosinophilia, mucus hypersecretion and increased cytokine levels. Levels of interleukin IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in nasal lavage fluid were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Lung tissue and nasal mucosa sections were stained with Mayer's hematoxylin and eosin for assessment of cell infiltration and mucus production, Immunohistochemistry, Real-time PCR and Western Blot analyses for HO-1 protein expression. RESULT: Orally administered Xuebijing significantly inhibited the number of OVA-induced inflammatory cells and IgE production, along with reduced T-helper (Th) 2 cytokine levels, such as IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13, improved the level of IFN-gamma, in nasal lavage fluid. In addition, Xuebijing induced a marked decrease in OVA-induced inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus production in nasal and lung tissues. These effects were correlated with HO-1 mRNA and protein induction. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that Xuebijing protects against OVA-induced airway inflammation, at least in part, via HO-1 upregulation.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Eosinophilia ; metabolism ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; metabolism ; Immunoglobulin E ; immunology ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Interleukin-13 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-5 ; metabolism ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism