[Xinfeng Capsule improves pulmonary function of rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis via regulating the expressions of autophagy-related proteins].

Objective To observe the effect of Xinfeng Capsule (XFC) on autophagy related gene (ATG), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3II (LC3-II), beclin 1 in the rat model of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA). Methods Rats were divided for four groups: normal control (NC) group, model control (MC) group, leflunomide (LEF) group, and XFC group, with 10 rats in each group. Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA, 0.1 mL) was injected into the right foot plantar skin of all rats except for the NC group. To enhance the immune response, 0.05 mL CFA was injected into the tail root in the 10th day. XFC and LEF diluted in water were administrated via gavage, once a day from the 13th day to the 42th day after AA induction. The normal and model rats were orally administered the same volume of saline solution. Swelling degree (SD), arthritis index (AI) and pulmonary function were observed; B lymphocyte stimulating factor (BAFF), interleukin (IL)-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-4, IL-10 were detected by ELISA; autophagosome of the synovium and lung were observed by transmission electron microscope; ATG5, ATG7, and ATG12 mRNAs were determined by reverse transcriptase PCR; LC3-II and beclin 1 were tested by Western blotting. Results Compared with the MC group, the parameters of pulmonary function, IL-4, IL-10, autophagosome, autophagolysosome, ATG12 mRNA, LC3-II, beclin 1 of the synovium and lung increased, while ATG7, ATG12 mRNA of the synovium, ATG5, ATG7 mRNA of the lung, serum IL-1β and BAFF decreased in the XFC group. Conclusion XFC can regulate autophagy and improve the pulmonary function in AA rats.