ABSTRACT
AIM To study the effects of Danggui Buxue Decoction total glycosides combined with Hirudo in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis in rats and its mechanism.METHODS One hundred and twenty male SD rats were selected,eighteen of which were taken as normal group (normal saline),the remaining 102 rats were used to establish model for pulmonary fibrosis.Seventy-two modeled rats were randomly divided into model group (normal saline),Danggui Buxue Decoction total glycosides group (13 mg/kg),Hirudo group (Hirudo powder,4 g/kg) and combination group (Danggui Buxue Decoction total glycosides,13 mg/kg;Hirudo powder,4 g/kg),eighteen rats in each group with intragastric administration.RESULTS On the 7th,14th and 28th days after modeling,alveolar inflammatory score,pulmonary fibrosis degree score,TGF-β1 and PAI-1 expression levels in lung tissue,IL-4 and IL-17 expression levels in alveolar lavage fluid,hydroxyproline (HYP) content in lung tissue in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (P ＜ 0.05).Alveolar inflammatory score,pulmonary fibrosis degree score,TGF-β1,PAI-1,IL-4,IL-17 expression levels and HYP content in the Danggui Buxue Decoction total glycosides group,Hirudo group and combination group were significantly lower than those in the model group (P ＜ 0.05).In the combination group,alveolar inflammatory score,pulmonary fibrosis degree score,TGF-β1,PAI-1,IL-4,IL-17 expression levels and HYP content were significantly lower than those in the Danggui Buxue Decoction total glycosides group and Hirudo group (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION Danggui Buxue Decoction total glycosides combined with Hirudo have good therapeutic effects on pulmonary fibrosis in rats mainly by reducing TGF-β1,PAI-1 expression levels and HYP coment in lung tissue.