Objective: To observe the effect of Shenfu injection on lung injury caused by hemorrhagic shock (HS) in rats and explore the related potential mechanism. Methods: Thirty-six SPF healthy male SD rats, aged 16-17 weeks, weighing 400-600 g, were randomly divided into three groups: sham operation group (group SH), HS group (group HS), and Shenfu injection group (group SF), 12 rats in each group. In group SH, only the right femoral vein and femoral artery were separated after anesthesia , and venous catheterization was not performed. HS model was established in groups SF and HS. In group HS, liquid resuscitation was performed through an intravenous catheter, and the resuscitation fluid consisted of the autoblood lost and the compound sodium chloride injection equivalent to 1.5 times the blood loss and 10 ml/kg normal saline. In group SF, the resuscitation fluid consisted of the lost autoblood and the compound sodium chloride injection equivalent to 1.5 times the blood loss and Shenfu injection 10 ml/kg. The whole perfusion time was about 60 minutes. Six rats in the three groups were randomly anesthetized 24 and 48 hours after operation. The wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) of lung tissues was detected. The concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-17, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) were detected by ELISA, the mRNA expression of retinoic acid-related orphan nuclear receptor γt (RORγt), transcription factor forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3), and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in lung tissues were detected by PCR. The protein contents of RORγt, Foxp3, HIF-1α, aquaporin 1 (AQP1), and AQP5 in lung tissue were detected by Western blot. Pathological changesunder HE staining light microscope and lung injury scores were observed. Results: Compared with 24 hours after operation, W/D, the concentrations of IL-6 and IL-17, mRNA expression and protein content of RORγt and HIF-1α, and lung injury score were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), the concentrations of IL-10, and TGF-β, Foxp3 mRNA expression and protein content, and AQP1 protein content were significantly increased in group SF 48 hours after operation (P < 0.05). Compared with group SH, W/D, the concentrations of IL-6, IL-17, IL-10, and TGF-β, mRNA expression and protein content of RORγt, Foxp 3, and HIF-1α, and lung injury score were significantly increased (P < 0.05), AQP1 and AQP5 protein contents were significantly decreased in groups HS and SF 24 and 48 hours after operation (P < 0.05), and alveolar structure was damaged under light microscope and alveolar interstitium was filled with a large amount of edematous fluid, during which a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated. Compared with group HS, W/D, the concentrations of IL-6 and IL-17, mRNA expression and protein content of RORγt and HIF-1α, and lung injury score were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), the concentrations of IL-10 and TGF-β, Foxp3 mRNA expression and protein content, AQP1 and AQP5 protein contents were significantly increased in group SF 24 and 48 hours after surgery(P < 0.05), and the alveolar structure was improved under light microscope, and edema was reduced, and the number of inflammatory cells was reduced. Conclusion: Shenfu injection can regulate the balance between pro-inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-17, and anti-inflammatory factors IL-10 and TGF-β, increase the protein content of AQP1 and AQP5 in lung tissue, and decrease the W/D and injury score in lung tissue, thus alleviating lung injury in HS rats. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of HIF-1α-RORγt/Foxp3 balance. |