ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of prostaglandins E1 combined with Xuebijing injection on the expression of transforming growth factor-β₁ (TGF-β₁) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in rats with acute pulmonary interstitial fibrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A rat model of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis was established by intratracheal injection of bleomycin (1 ml/kg). One hundred and eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups with 18 in each group, which were normal control group, model group, hormone (methylprednisolone) treatment group, Xuebijing treatment group, prostaglandin E1 treatment group and combination treatment group (prostaglandin E1 and Xuebijing injection). Except for those in the normal control group, the rats in each group were sacrificed on the 7th, 14th and 28th day after treatment. The TGF-β₁ expression in lung tissue was measured by immunohistochemical staining. The TNF-α concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of rat model was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The combination treatment group showed significantly more macrophages with TGF-β₁ expression in lung tissue at each time point, as compared with the model group, Xuebijing treatment group, methylprednisolone treatment group and prostaglandin E1 treatment group (P < 0.05). On the 7th day, the TNF-α concentration in BALF in the combination treatment group was significantly lower than those in the model group, methylprednisolone treatment group and prostaglandin E1 treatment group (P < 0.05); on the 14th day, the TNF-α concentration in BALF in the combination treatment group was significantly lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05); on the 28th day, the levels of TNF-α in the prostaglandin E1 treatment group and combination treatment group were significantly lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Prostaglandin E1 combined with Xuebijing injection may significantly inhibit TGF-β₁ expression in the lung tissue of rats with acute pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, which reduces alveolar inflammatory response.</p>