Experimental Study On The Effect Of Yiqi Huoxue Xiaoyao Recipe On Serum TNF - α, IL - 7 And IFN - γ In COPD Rats

Background:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common disorder can be controlled. It is characterized by persistent airflow limitation. Development of airflow limitation was progressive, accompanied by increased chronic inflammation of airways and lungs due to noxious particles or gases. TNF-α, IL-7 and IFN-y are some of the important cytokinescausing the inflammations. Airway remodeling is an important feature and key aspects of COPD, inflammatory symptom is also another important factor leading to airway remodeling. By considering the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Collateral Disease, mass and the "assembling and dispersing" theory, combined with COPD and modern TCM pathological features, our group proposed "micro-accumulation in lung collateral vessels" pathogenesis hypothesis, revealing the essence of COPD and the key interventions of COPD. According to the proposed theory proposed Yiqi Huoxue Xiaozheng formula, it has made a more significant clinical efficacy and it helped to build an improved model of COPD airway remodeling in the early pathological animal experiments.Objective:This paperintends to start off with inflammatory cytokinessuch as TNF-a, IL-7 and IFN-y, to verify the effects of Yiqi Huoxue Xiaozheng on COPD model rats by observing its general condition, lung tissue morphology, lung function, inflammatory cytokines, and evaluate the preventive effect of this method on COPD model rats, and discuss its pathogenesisfrom the perspective of inflammatory mechanisms. This paper aims to enrich academic thoughts on lung diseases and medical treatment for the scientific explanation of the core aspects of the disease, to improve TCM COPD pathogenesis theoryby providing some experimental basis.Methodology:In this research,30 rats were randomly divided into three groups of 10 each, namely Control Group, Model Group and Chinese Medicine Group. Except for the Control Group, samples were exposed to cigarette smoke and injected with LPS into the airway in order to prepare COPD model rats. From the second day of the experiment, the Model Group and TCM group were given gastric-lavage by distilled water, Yiqi Huoxue Xiaozheng formula until the 12th week. During the experiment, we observe the rats for their general condition (intake of food and water, the furglossiness, activeness, weight, nose and mouth secretionsetc.). On the 93rdday, tracheotomies were performed on all experimental groups in order to examine the pulmonary functions. After the rats were killed, samples of lung tissues were observed for morphology findings. Sampleserums were treated by ELISA technique for the manifestation of TNF-α, IL-7, IFN-γ.Results:Rats of TCM group has shown improvement in their general conditions as compared to Model Group in terms of their intake of food and water, the fur glossiness, activeness, weight, nose and mouth secretions. Weight of rats from TCM group became higher than that of Model Group since week 4, and the difference between the two groups started to show statistical significance since week 8 (P<0.05). Lung tissue morphology observations have shown that emphysema, airway and pulmonary vascular remodeling situation have improved for TCM Group as compare to Model Group. Examination of Pulmonary functions shows that FVC, FEV0.3, FEF25-75, MMF, PEF have improved for TCM Group, and the results of FVC, FEV0.3, PEF are statistically significant (P<0.05). ELISA technique shows that manifestation of TNF-α, IL-7, IFN-γ inflammatory cytokines in serum has reduced for TCM group and it is statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion:Yiqi Huoxue Xiaozheng formula can improve the general conditions of COPD model rats, namely, their weight gain, emphysema, airway and pulmonary vascular remodeling situation, slowing the proliferation and hypertrophy of bronchioles wall and improve some pulmonary functions in model rats; This technique lowers the manifestation of TNF-α、 IL-7、 IFN-γ in COPD rats’ serum, reduces pathological changes of COPD airway remodeling from the perspective of pathogenesis, and proves to be effective in prevention and treatment.