Objective:

2

To investigate the effects of Shenling Baizhu Powder (SLBZP) on non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)-induced lung disease in mice.

Methods:

2

An NTM lung disease mouse model was established by

Mycobacterium kansasii

infection. C57BL/6J female mice were randomly divided into 5 groups by a random number table (

n

=6): negative control

NTM

SLBZP-L (2.34 g/kg)

SLBZP-H (4.68 g/kg)

and rifampicin (20 mg/kg).

M. kansasii

load in the lungs

liver

and spleen was quantified. Lung histology was performed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Gene and cytokine expressions related to CD4

+

T and natural killer (NK) cells were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay

flow cytometry

real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR

and Western blot

respectively.

Results:

2

SLBZP-L and SLBZP-H treatments inhibited

M. kansasii

growth and reduced the histological damage and granuloma lesion areas in lungs of mice (

P

<

0.01). SLBZP-H increased interleukin(IL)-17A and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels

along with the proportion of CD4

+

T cells

NK cells

and IFN-γ

+

NK cells

while decreased IL-10 (

P

<

0.01). Furthermore

SLBZP-H inhibited mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor

IL-6

IL-1β

C-C motif chemokine ligand 2

C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL) 2

GATA binding protein 3 and T-bet

and increased mRNA level of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γ (

P

<

0.05 or

P

<

0.01). SLBZP-L and SLBZP-H also reduced the protein expressions of CXCL13 and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 5 (

P

<

0.05 or

P

<

0.01).

Conclusion:

2

SLBZP alleviated NTM-induced lung damage and enhanced NK cell immune response

which might be linked to CD4

+

T cell immunity.