The Effects Of Astragalus Membranaceus Point Injection And Combined With Dexamethasone On P38 Mapk Signal Pathway And Cytokines Of Asthmatic Rats

ObjectiveTo further study the effects of Astragalus membranaceus point injection and dexamethasone on P38 MAP signal pathway based on previous study. To Investigate the curative effect and the possible mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus point injection on asthma,and explore whether there is a synergistic effect on acupoints injection by astragalus combined with dexamethasone in treating asthmatic rat.To provide experimental basis for clinical application.Methods48 male rats were randomly divided into six groups: control group(group A),asthma model group(group B),SB203580 intervention group(group C),NS acupoint injection group(group D),acupoints injection by Astragalus group(group E),acupoints injection by Astragalus+ dexamethasone group(group F). Each group has 8 rats. The rat model with asthma was sentitized and stimulated by the intraperitoneal injection with ovalbumin(OVA) and aluminum hydroxide mixture(ultrasonic atomized by 1%OVA solution for 30 min once a day) All rats were excuted after 24 hours the last stimulation, and the serum, bubble lavage fluid(BALF) and double lungs tissue were collected. The left lung tissu,routinely dehydrated,embedded in paraff.HE stain and tested by immunohistochemistry to observe the pathological changes of lung tissue and analyze the average gray level of phosphorylated p38 MAPK nuclear positive cells respectively.Collecting protein from right lung tissue and detecting phosphorylated p38 MAPK protein expression by western-blot. The levels of IL-4、INF-γ and TNF-a in serum and BALF were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results1.General observation:There were many asthmatic significant symptoms and physical sign in group B,such as shortness of breath,Oral of cyanosis, restlessness,frequent scratching nose, abdominal cramps,and cyanosis of lips. group A were nomal and with no such symptoms. Compared with model control group, signs and symptoms of rats in group D,group E and group F were improved obviously. And symptoms of group D improved more significantly than group E and F.2.HE stain: The histopathological changes of group B including serious lung tissue injury, tracheobronchial stenosis, bronchial epithelium sheddin, smooth muscle hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration and so on. There were no pulmonary histopathology changes in group A. Compared with model control group, changes of bronchial and pulmonary histopathology in group C、group E and group F were improved distinctly. There were no significant differences between group E and group F.3.The expression level of phosporylated P38 protein in group B was significantly higher than that in other groups, the level of phosphorylated P38 protein was the lowest in Group A,and the difference was statistical significant(p<0.05).The level in group D was lower than that in group E(P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the level of phosphorylated P38 protein between Group E and group F(P>0.05).4.The level of IL-4、IFN-γ、TNF-a in serum and BALF:4.1 The level of IL-4 、TNF-α in serum and BALF were the lowest in group A and the highest in group B. The difference between this two groups was significant(p<0.05).Compared with group E, the level of IL-4 、TNF-α in serum and BALF were increased in group C(p<0.05), while were decreased in group D(p<0.05).There was no significant difference between Group E and F(p<0.05).4.2 The concentration of IFN-γin serum and BALF:group A was the highest level while group B was the lowest, and the difference between this two groups was statistical significant(p<0.05).Compared with group E, group C and D were decreased(p<0.05). Group E was similar to group F, it was no significant difference between two group(p<0.05).Conclusion:1.P38 MAPK might play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma, and regulates the release of TNF-α、IL-4 and IFN-γin asthmatic rats.2.It is suggested that astragalus injection injected on acupoint may be effective on inhibiting the expression of phosphorylated P38 MAPK and reducing the release of TNF-a and correcting the imbalances of IFN-γ/IL-4 in asthmatic rat. astragalus injection injected on acupoint could improve the asthmatic symptoms of the asthmatic rats.3. There was no synergistic effect on acupoints injected by astragalus combining with dexamethasone in treating asthmatic rat, which still need to be further explored.