Xuebijing injection induces anti-inflammatory-like effects and downregulates the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB in lung injury caused by dichlorvos poisoning

Abstract Background The mechanism in lung injury caused by acute organophosphate pesticide poisoning (AOPP) and an effective treatment remains unclear. We aim to clarify how the inflammatory lung injury caused by AOPP might be modulated by Xuebijing (XBJ) injection. Methods AOPP-induced lung injury model was induced by dichlorvos (DDVP) subcutaneous administration in rats and XBJ injection was administered by intraperitoneal injection after DDVP challenge. The effects of XBJ injection were assessed by lung histopathological analysis and lung injury scores, lung wet-to-dry weight ratios (WDR) and oxygenation, differential immune cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), IL-6 and TNF-α levels in blood, the levels of TLR4 and NF-κB proteins in lung tissue and blood acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Results DDVP administration resulted in damage of lung histopathology and lower PaO2/FiO2 ratios (P  Conclusion XBJ injection prevents DDVP poisoning induced lung injury by attenuating the inflammatory response. The protective effect appears to be mediated through downregulation of the TLR4 and NF-κB expression.