Observation of Effect of Qianjin Weijingtang on Differentiation of Th17/Treg and Expressions of Related Cytokines in Lung Tissues of Model Rats Exposed to Cigarette Smoke / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:The present study was to observe the effect of Qianjin Weijingtang on the differentiation of helper T cells 17 （Th17）/T regulatory cell （Treg） and the expressions of related cytokines in the lung tissues of the model rats exposed to cigarette smoke. Method:Totolly 60 male rats were randomly assigned into six groups （control group， model group， acetylcysteine group and Qianjin Weijingtang high， moddle and low dose groups）， with 10 rats in each group. After 30 day's modeling and 30 day's intervention， rats were killed peacefully with their tissues collected. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the expression of retinoic acid associated orphan receptor （ROR-γt） and forkhead/pterygoid helix transcription factor 3 （Foxp3） mRNA， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to check the concentration of interleukin-17（IL-17）， IL-6， IL-10 and transforming growth factor-β1（TGF-β1）. Htoxylin eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the pathological changes of lung tissues， while flow cytometry was used to detect Treg（Foxp3+CD25+）， Th17（CD4+IL-17+） and Treg/Th17 ratio. Result:As compared with the control group， the ROR-γt mRNA expression in model group was higher（P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， various doses of Qianjin Weijingtang down-regulated the expression（P<0.05，P<0.01）. As compared with the control group， the expression of the Foxp3 mRNA was down-regulated in model group（P<0.05）， but was up-regulated in Qianjin Weijingtang middle and low dose groups（P<0.05）. Compared with the control group， the concentration of IL-17 and IL-6 in the model group were significantly increased， while the concentration of IL-10 and TGF-β1 in the model group were significantly decreased（P<0.05，P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， intervention with various doses of Qianjin Weijingtang could help to decrease the concentration of IL-17 and IL-6 in lung tissues， and increase the concentration of IL-10（P<0.05）， which were consistent with those of Real-time PCR results. Flow cytometry examination showed that the Th17（CD4+IL-17+） proportion decreased and Treg/Th17 ratio increased after Qianjin Weijing Tang middle and low dose intervention（P<0.05，P<0.01）. Conclusion:Qianjin Weijingtang could regulate Treg/Th17 ratio and help to achieve Th17/Treg balance.