补肾、益气中药对哮喘模型大鼠神经内分泌免疫网络若干指标的影响

目的 观察补肾（淫羊藿）和益气（黄芪）中药对哮喘反复发作模型大鼠神经内分泌免疫（neuroendocrino-immune,NEI）网络相关指标变化的影响.方法 将健康清洁级雄性挪威（Brown Norway,BN）大鼠120只,分为11组,采用Realtime-PCR法检测下丘脑促肾上腺激素释放激素（CRH）mRNA的表达;放免法检测血浆中促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）的含量;酶联免疫吸附实验（ELISA）检测血清白细胞介素-4（IL-4）,IL-6,干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）和皮质酮（CORT）的含量;采用HE染色法观察肺组织病理变化.结果 与正常对照组比较,哮喘反复发作3周模型大鼠下丘脑CRHmRNA表达和血浆ACTH无明显变化,血清CORT水平升高显著,IFN-γ无明显变化,前炎症因子IL-6、IL-4有上升趋势;与哮喘对照组比较,复方中、高剂量组和淫羊藿低、中剂量组下丘脑CRH mRNA的表达明显升高,淫羊藿中剂量组大鼠血清IFN-γ的浓度升高.黄芪低剂量组大鼠血清CORT的浓度升高,黄芪高剂量组血清IL-4和IL-6的浓度降低.结论 哮喘反复发作3周大鼠存在NEI网络若干指标的紊乱;补肾和益气中药可以增强下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺皮质（hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal,HPA）轴的功能,还可以改变Th1和Th2型细胞因子的平衡,这些可能是其治疗哮喘反复发作的机制之一.

Effects of Chinese Herbs for Replenishing Shen and Strengthening Qi on Some Indexes of Neuro-endocrino-immune Network in Asthmatic Rats

OBJECTIVE: To study changes of several related indexes of neuro-endocrino-immune (NEI) network in rat asthma model, and to observe effects of epimedium herb (EH, a Chinese herb for replenishing Shen) and milkvetch root (MR, a Chinese herb for strengthening qi) on these indexes. METHODS: One hundred and twenty male healthy Brown Norway rats of clean grade were randomly divided into 11 groups. Their mRNA expression of corticoid release hormone (CRH) in hypothalamus was tested by Realtime-PCR, serum ACTH and CORT, IL-6, IL-4, IFN-gamma were detected with radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively and pathological changes of lung tissue were observed with hematoxylin and eosin stain. RESULTS: As compared with the normal group, mRNA expression of CRH in hypothalamic tissue, plasma ACTH and serum concentration of IFN-gamma not changed significantly, but serum level of CORT raised significantly and the pre-inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-4 showed an increasing trend in the model rats. As compared with the model group, level of CRH mRNA expression in groups treated with low dose and moderate dose of both EH and the formula (HE and MR), IFN-gamma in group treated with moderate dose of EH and serum CORT in group treated with low dose of MR were higher, and serum levels of IL-4 and IL-6 in groups treated with high dose of MR were lower. CONCLUSION: Rats suffered from repeated asthmatic attack for three weeks had some disorders in indexes of NEI network. Chinese herbs for replenish Shen and strengthening qi could improve the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and adjust the balance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, which might be one of the mechanisms of Chinese herbs for treatment of repeated asthma attack.