Qiu, MY; Fan, H; Mei, JJ; Shen, GX; Liu, SL; Zhao, YQ
AIM: To study the effect of Lichangsifang (LCSF) on TNF-α mRNA expression in rats with ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: Ninty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups, and every group had fourteen rats (seven rats were male, and seven, female), namely the normal control group, the pathologic control group, solfasalazine (SASP) group, Wumeiwan (WMW) group, Baitouwengtang (BTWT) group, Senglingbaishusan (SLSS) group and Tongxieyaofang (TXYF) group. Except the normal control group, the other six animal model groups of UC were made through the integration of general immunity and local stimulation with DNCB and acetic acid. The six animal model groups of UC were treated by SASP, TXYF, WMW, BTWT, SLBSS and TXYF respectively. After these treatment, the changes of some immune indexes in the colon tissue such as the level of TNF-α mRNA expression were evaluated by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: The level of TNF-α mRNA expression in pathologic groups was significantly higher than that in normal controls (P <0.01, t=4.128 vs normal control), TNF-α mRNA expression was decreased in WMW than those in other pathologic groups (P <0.01, t=3.435 or P <0.05 t=2.593). TNF-α mRNA expression was decreased in WMW group than those in BTWT group, SLBSS group and TXYF group (P <0.05, q=2.581 vs BTWT group, q=2.834 vs SLBSS group, q=2.624 vs TXYF group). There was no remarkable difference in the lever of TNF-α mRNA expression among BTWT group, SLBSS group and TXYF group (P >0.05). CONCLUSION: This model induced with DNCB and acetic acid is successful. It is obvious that the cytokines play important roles in pathogenesis of UC, especially proinflammtory cytokines TNF-α, which can promote inflammation. WMW is the most effective among the compounds, which have curative effects by adjusting immunity and inhibiting abnormal inflammatory reaction in the course of UC.