半夏提取物通过NLRP3/caspase-1通路对慢性阻塞性肺疾病大鼠肺损伤和气道炎症的影响OA

Objective To investigate the effect of Pinellia ternata extract on lung injury and airway inflammation in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)based on the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)/caspase-1 pathway.Methods Rats were randomly assigned into normal,COPD,low-dose Pinellia ternata extract,high-dose Pinellia ter-nata extract,and high-dose Pinellia ternata extract+nigericin groups(n=10 in each group).Lung function,inflammatory cell infiltration,and the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)and serum were evaluated,and a pathological exam-ination of lung tissue was conducted.Western blotting was used to detect the expression of NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway-related proteins in lung tissue.Results In the COPD group(compared with the normal group)and the high-dose of Pinellia ternata extract+nigericin group(compared with the high-dose Pinellia ternata extract group),the lung capacity and peak expiratory flow(PEF)of rats were decreased,while the inspiratory resistance(Ri),lung pathological injury score,lymphocyte,neutrophil and eosinophil counts,levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-1β,and IL-18,and relative expression of NLRP3 and caspase-1 proteins were increased(P<0.05).Compared with the COPD group,the lung capacity and PEF of rats in in low-and high-dose Pinellia ternata extract groups were increased,while Ri,the lung pathological injury score,lymphocyte,neutrophil,and eosinophil counts,levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-18,and relative expression of NLRP3 and caspase-1 proteins were decreased(P<0.05).The high-dose Pinellia ternata extract showed stronger improve-ment effects on various pathological indicators of rats with COPD.Conclusion Pinellia ternata extract can alleviate lung injury and airway inflammation in rats with COPD by inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway.