Intervention effects of Dahuangfuzi decotion on expression of neutrophil elastase in rats with severe pancreatitis-acute lung injury

Abstract

Objective To investigate the intervention effects of Dahuangfuzi decotion on the expression of neutrophil elastase (NE) in rats with severe pancreatitis-acute lung injury (SAP-ALI).Methods Eighty health SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation group ( n = 19),SAPALI group ( n = 21 ),NE group ( n = 20),and Dahuangfuzi decotion-treated group ( treatment group,n =20).The blood gas analysis was made,tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β in blood were measured with ELISA at the 24th h after the establishment of SAP-ALI model.The expression of NE in the lung tissues was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting,and the contents of NE in BALF and serum were determined when the animals were sacrificed as the 24th h after operation.The wet-to-dry (W/D) ratio of lung tissues and pathomorphological changes in the pancreatic and lung tissues were observed.Results The contents of NE in the lung tissue,BALF and serum of NE group were significantly higher than those in SAP-ALI group (P＜0.05 ).The contents of TNF-α and IL-1β in NE group were also significantly higher than those in SAP-ALI group.The contents of NE in the lung tissue,BALF and serum,and TNF-α and IL-1β in treatment group were significantly lower than those in NE group.Conclusion Neutrophil activation and excessive release of NE were involved in the pathogenesis of SAP-ALI.Dahuangfuzi decoction can significantly reduce the severity of SAP-ALI in rats by inhibiting the elevation of NE and down-regulating the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β. Key words: Severe acute pancreatitis; Acute lung injury; Neutrophil; Elastase; Dahuangfuzi decotion