Azithromycin for intervening with inflammation in rat with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease via TLR-4/NF-κB signal pathway / 重庆医学

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the mechanism of azithromycin for intervening with inflammation of rats with chronic ob‐structive pulmonary disease (COPD) via TLR‐4/NF‐κB signal pathway .Methods Thirty‐six SD rats were divided into health con‐trol group ,model group and azithromycin group .The rat COPD model in the model group and the azithromycin group was estab‐lished by smoking and intratracheal administration of lipopolysaccharide for 1 month .At 30 min before smoking ,the azithromycin group was given azithromycin 50 mg/kg by gavage ,while the health control group and model group were given the equal amount of normal saline .One month later ,rats were sacrificed and lung tissue was obtained .The pathological morphology of the lung was ob‐served by the HE staining .The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to detect the level of TNF‐α,IL‐1βand IL‐6 from lung tissue homogenate .The expression of TLR4 ,NF‐κB and pp65 mRNA was detected by RT‐PCR .The expression of TLR4 ,NF‐κB ,pp65 ,MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 protein was detected by Western blot .The cytological classification and count in bron‐choalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were performed .Results Compared with the model group ,the azithromycin group could improve the lung tissue morphology ,decreased the neutrophil granulocyte count(P< 0 .01) ,reduced the secretion of TNF‐α,IL‐1β,IL‐6 , MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 in lung tissue homogenates(P<0 .01) ,and suppressed the expression of TLR4 and pp65 phosphorylation level (P<0 .01) .Conclusion Azithromycin can intervene with inflammation of rats with COPD .