Protective effect of N-acetylcysteine on mice with acute lung injury in-duced by H9N2 swine influenza virus / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM:To investigate the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on acute lung injury induced by H9N2 swine influenza virus ( SIV) in mice.METHODS: BALB/c mice were used to establish the animal model of acute lung injury by nasal inoculation of H9N2 SIV.The mice were divided into control group (without SIV infection), H9N2 SIV group (inoculation of H9N2 SIV) and NAC group (inoculation of H9N2 SIV plus pretreatment with NAC).The pulmonary edema was evaluated by determining the lung wet weight /dry weight ( W/D) ratio.The pathological changes of the lung tis-sues were observed .The concontrations of TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) were meas-ured.The virus titer, T-SOD activity, MPO activity and MDA content in the homogenate of the lung tissues were detected . RESULTS:Treatment with NAC decreased the morality of infected mice , and significantly prolonged the survival time of infected mice .The pathological changes of the lung tissues , the lung W/D ratio and the lung index were relieved when SIV infected the mice treated with NAC .Treatment with NAC significantly decreased the infiltration of inflammatory cells inclu-ding macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils in the BALF .The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1βand MDA and the activity of MPO were also decreased.Treatment with NAC also significantly increased the T-SOD activity.CONCLUSION: The protective effect of NAC on the acute lung injury mouse model is related to suppression of the oxidative stress and inflamma -tory responses .