Objective: To reveal characteristic of phlegm-heat syndrome and phlegm-dampness syndrome of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) from expression of inflammatory factor.
Methods: Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (each n=12): normal control group, AECOPD group, phlegm-heat syndrome of AECOPD group (PHs group) and phlegm-dampness syndrome of AECOPD group (PDs group). The expressions of interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) proteins in lung tissue were detected by immunohistochemical staining method. IL-1β mRNA and IL-10 mRNA expressions were measured by reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Results: The mRNA and protein expressions of inflammatory factors in lung tissue in AECOPD group, PHs group and PDs group were remarkably enhanced compared with those in normal control group. Compared with AECOPD group, the protein expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 and the mRNA expression of IL-1β in lung tissue in PHs group and PDs group were markedly enhanced (IL-1β protein: 6.26 ± 2.43, 8.20 ± 2.61 vs. 4.30 ± 2.38, TNF-α protein: 10.28 ± 2.64, 10.67 ± 2.68 vs. 7.47 ± 2.90, IL-6 protein: 8.13 ± 3.03, 10.45 ± 3.37 vs. 5.66 ± 3.18, IL-1β mRNA: 0.41 ± 0.03, 0.48 ± 0.05 vs. 0.35 ± 0.04, all P<0.01), and the expressions of IL-10 protein and IL-10 mRNA were obviously weakened (IL-10 protein: 7.00 ± 1.89, 4.70 ± 2.31 vs. 9.33 ± 2.58, IL-10 mRNA: 0.43 ± 0.05, 0.35 ± 0.03 vs. 0.52 ± 0.06, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The protein expressions of IL-1β and IL-6 proteins and the mRNA expression of IL-1β in PDs group were significantly higher than those in PHs group, while the expressions of IL-10 protein and IL-10 mRNA were evidently lowered (all P<0.05).
Conclusions: There were more strong expressions of IL-1β and IL-6 and more weaken expressions of IL-10 in phlegm-dampness syndrome than in phlegm-heat syndrome, which may be one of the main reason of serious damage in lung tissue and delayed recovery of the patient with phlegm-dampness syndrome of AECOPD. All the above findings need further investigation.