The expression of matrix metalloproteinases in the lung of the rats with vibrio vulnificus sepsis and the intervention of Xuebijing injection

Abstract

Objective To detect the expression of MMP-2/9 and TIMP-1/2 in the lung of Vibrio vulnificus sepsis rats and observe the intervention of Xuebijing injection. Method One hundred and ten SD rats of clean grade were randomly(random number) divided into normal control group (group A, n = 10),Vibrio vulnificus sepsis group (group B, n = 50. Sepsis was reproduced in rats with subcutaneous injection in left lower limb with Vibrio vulnificus) and Xuebijin intervention group ( group C, n = 50. Rats were intraperitoneal(ip) with the dose of Xuebijing 4mL/kg at the time of 30 min later after infection). The rats in group B and C were sacrificed at 1 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h after infection, the expression of MMP-2/9 and TIMP-1/2 were examined by PCR, Immunohistochemistry or ELISA methods, the lung permeability were measured by Coomassie Brilliant Blue method. Experimental data used single factor analysis of variance, and between groups by LSD method for pairwise comparison,P ＜0.05 statistically significant difference. Results The lung permeability increased both in group B and C compared with group A,and in group B were relatively higher. The lung MMP-2/9, TIMP-1/2mRNA expression in groups B and C compared with in group A was markedly higher, and reached the peak at 6 h(0. 344 ± 0. 108 ),6 h ( 1. 230 ± 0.377 ), 12 h (0.523 ±0.098),12 h(0.280±0.070) (P＜0.05) in group B while at 12 h(0.256 ±0.074),6 h(0.968±0.225) ,12 h(0.746 ±0. 316) ,12 h(0.356 ±0.035) (P ＜0. 05) in group C; the MMP-2/9mRNA expression in group C decreased(P＜0. 05) compared with the group B while the TIMP-1/2mRNA expression increased(P＜0. 05). The lung MMP-2/9, TIMP-1/2 protein expression in groups B and C compared with the group A(0.345±0.109) also increased, and the peak was at 12 h (0. 692 ± 0. 191 ), 12 h (0. 061 ±0.017) ,24 h(1384.42 ±91) ,24 h(41.04 ±3.60)in group B while at 24 h(0. 217 ±0.065) ,12 h(0. 045± 0. 013 ) ,24 h ( 1617.22 ± 103 ) ,24 h (47.66 ± 3.58 )in group C, the MMP-2/9 protein expression in group C was lower than in group B(P＜0.05), the TIMP-1/2 protein expression in group C was similar to in group B early while marked increased(P＜0.05)later. Conclusions MMP/TIMP imbalance was one of the mechanisms of the lung injury in the rats with Vibrio vulnificus sepsis, Xuebijing could restore the balance of MMP/TIMP ratio. Key words: Vibrio vulnificus; Sepsis; lung injury; Matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2); Matrix metalloproteinases-9(MMP-9); Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1); Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2); Xuebijing injection