[Effect of Xinfeng Capsule on lung function in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis and its mechanism].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Xinfeng Capsule(XFC) on pulmonary function and related mechanism in adjuvant-induced arthritis(AA) rats.Methods: The rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control(NC),model control(MC) groups,methotrexate(MTX),tripterygium glycosides tablet(TPT) and Xinfeng capsule(XFC) treatment groups.The adjuvant-induced arthritis model was established by intracutaneous injection of 0.1 mL Freund's complete adjuvant in the right paw of rats;the drugs were given 19 d after model establishment.The toe swelling degree(E),arthritis index(AI),pulmonary function,peripheral blood Treg levels,pathological changes of lung tissue and expression of Foxp3,TGF-β1,Smad3,Smad7 proteins in lung tissue were measured 30 d after drug administration.Results: Compared to NC group,the levels of E,AI,alveolitis score,TGF-β1 and Smad3 were significantly increased(P 0.05 or P 0.01);maximum expiratory flow 25% of vital capacity(FEF 25),50% maximal expiratory vital capacity flow(FEF 50),maximum expiratory flow at 75% of vital capacity(FEF 75),maximum mid-expiratory flow(MMF),force peak expiratory flow(PEF),CD4+CD25+ Treg,Foxp3 and Smad7 were significantly decreased in MC group(P 0.05 or P 0.01).Compared to MC group,the expression of E,AI,TGF-β1 and Smad3 were reduced,while FEF 50,FEF 75,MMF,PEF,Treg,Foxp3 and Smad7 were elevated in XFC group(P 0.05 or P 0.01).Compared to XFC group,the level of body mass,FEF 25,FEF 50,FEF 75,MMF and Treg were lower in MTX and TPT groups(P 0.05 or P 0.01).Conclusions: There are inflamed joints and reduced pulmonary function in rats of adjuvant-induced arthritis.XFC can inhibit paw edema degrees,reduce arthritis response,and improve pulmonary function,which is associated with up-regulating expression of Treg and Foxp3,down-regulating the expression of TGF-β1 and adjusting TGF-β1 / Smads signal pathway.