Effects of Qingkailing on gene expression and free radical metabolism in mice with endotoxemia / 国际中医中药杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the protective effect of Qingkailing (QKL) in cardiac muscle's injury induced by endotoxin and discuss the mechanism from the inflammatory factors expression and free radical metabolism. Methods A total of 48 male ICR mice were divided into normal group, model group, low dose group and high dose group, 12 mice in each group. The QKL(9 ml/kg) was administered via gavage daily for 4 days in low dose group, the QKL (18 ml/kg) was administered via gavage daily for 4 days in high dose group, the equivalent volume of saline was administered via gavage daily for 4 days in normal group and model group. At the fifth day all groups except normal group, received intraperitoneal injection of LPS 0.2 ml (40 mg/kg), and the normal group received equivalent volume of saline. Intragastric administrated again 0.5h, 8h and 20 h after the model establishment. We took blood from hearts 1 hour after the last administration. The QR-PCR was used to detect the expression of inflammatory factors. The Elisa was used to detect IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MDA, SOD and GSH-Px. Results Compared to the model group, the content of TNF-α (68.75 ± 7.73 pg/ml, 62.03 ± 16.09 pg/ml vs. 116.06 ± 21.06 pg/ml), IL-1β (110.84 ± 40.61 pg/ml, 105.51 ± 38.21 pg/ml vs. 167.53 ± 54.82 pg/ml) and IL-6 (68.78 ± 20.57 pg/ml, 59.71 ± 13.59 pg/ml vs. 108.80 ± 28.21 pg/ml) in low dose group and high dose group were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The expression of TNFα mRNA (1.42 ± 0.15, 1.30 ± 0.46 vs. 3.00 ± 0.82),IL-1β mRNA (1.20 ± 0.57, 1.01 ± 0.40 vs. 2.32 ± 1.39) and IL-6 mRNA (1.53 ± 1.10, 1.16 ± 1.09 vs. 4.12 ± 2.23) in low dose group and high dose group were significantly decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The content of MDA (10.64 ± 2.91 nmol/mg, 11.36 ± 3.02 nmol/mg vs. 15.21 ± 2.31 nmol/mg) in low dose group and high dose group were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The content of SOD (282.32 ± 35.90 U/mg, 325.07 ± 34.76 U/mg vs. 249.01 ± 45.22 U/mg) and GSH-Px (48.26 ± 17.13 U/g, 49.66 ± 22.11 U/g vs. 26.47 ± 20.37 U/g) in low dose group and high dose group were significantly increased (P<0.01). Conclusions The QKL plays a protective role in myocardial injury induced by endotoxemia. Its mechanism may be associated with down-regulation of expression of inflammatory factors, reducing free radicals and improvement of antioxidation.