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Preventive effect of hochu‐ekki‐to, a Japanese herbal medicine, on bleomycin‐induced lung injury in mice
Author(s) -
TAJIMA Shunji,
BANDO Masashi,
YAMASAWA Hideaki,
OHNO Shoji,
MORIYAMA Hiroshi,
TERADA Masaki,
TAKADA Toshinori,
SUZUKI Eiichi,
GEJYO Fumitake,
SUGIYAMA Yukihiko
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2007.01146.x
Subject(s) - bleomycin , medicine , hydroxyproline , lung , pulmonary fibrosis , immune system , interferon γ , fibrosis , immunology , interferon gamma , chemotherapy
Objective: Pulmonary fibrosis is thought to be closely associated with the T‐helper type‐2 (Th2) immune response. Recent studies have shown that hochu‐ekki‐to (TJ‐41), a Japanese herbal medicine, may correct the Th1/Th2 imbalance skewed to Th2. The present study was designed to investigate the preventive effect of TJ‐41 on the development of bleomycin (BLM)‐induced lung injury in mice. Methods: Female C57BL/6 mice were divided into a group given ordinary feed and another group given the same feed plus TJ‐41 mixed in at a dose of 1 g/kg/day. Both groups were maintained on this diet for 8 weeks before and 5 weeks after administration of 2 mg/kg BLM intratracheally. Results: Mortality after BLM‐induced lung injury was significantly lower in the TJ‐41‐treated mice. The hydroxyproline content and fluid content in the lung on day 35 was significantly lower in the TJ‐41‐treated mice. Histologically, TJ‐41 reduced the number of infiltrating cells, thus ameliorating the destruction of the lung architecture, and attenuated the lung fibrosis score. Furthermore, TJ‐41 inhibited the expression of the interleukin‐5/interferon‐γ mRNA ratio in the lung on day 7. Conclusions: Treatment with TJ‐41 partially prevented experimental lung fibrosis through the correction of the Th1/Th2 imbalance skewed to Th2.