2014 Volume 7 Issue 1 Pages 40
Background: Ma-Xing-Shi-Gan-Tang (MXSGT) is a compound traditional Chinese medicine which has been widely used in clinic for treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infection in China. However, whether MXSGT could improve LPS-induced pulmonary microcirculatory disturbance and lung edema is still not clear.
Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the ameliorating effect and potential mechanism of MXSGT on the LPS-induced pulmonary microcirculatory disturbance and lung edema.
Method: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (weight in 200±20g) were injected with LPS (7mg/kg) intraperitoneally to induce lung microcirculatory disturbance and lung edema. MXSGT (2.6075g/kg) was given by gavage 6 hours after LPS exposure. Examinations were undertaken at 6 and 12 hours after LPS exposure, respectively.
Result: The number of leukocytes adhering to pulmonary venules and the expression of ICAM-1 in lung tissue were increased at 6 hours and 12 hours after LPS exposure. In addition, LPS increased pulmonary tissue W/D ratio and decreased the expression of junctional adhesion molecule-1 and claudin-5 in lung tissue. Post-treatment with MXSGT significantly suppressed these changes induced by LPS exposure.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that MXSGT ameliorated rat pulmonary microcirculation disturbance and lung edema induced by LPS, the underlying mechanism may involve protection of leukocytes from adhering to pulmonary venule and up -regulation of junctional adhesion molecule-1 and claudin-5 in lung tissue.