Objective: To explore the effect of Dusuqing granule on immune function and cytokines in the aged rat with mycoplasma pneumonia (MP). Method: Young rats were randomly divided into young control and young model groups

aged rats into aged control

aged model

Dusuqing and Azithromycin groups. Mycoplasma pneumonia rat model was duplicated by trachea intubation

and were ig administrated with Dusuqing granule (3.995 g·kg-1·d-1) and Azithromycin (23 mg·kg-1·d-1) for 7 days

and sacrificed at day 8.White blood cells (WBC) and neutrophilic granulocyte (NEU) count in peripheral blood were observed

and mycoplasma polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

levels of secretory immunoglobulin (sIg) A and fibronectin (FN) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)

lung water content and pathological changes

and expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF )- α

interleukin (IL )- 6

IL-8 in serum were also measured. Result: Mycoplasma is negative in Azithromycin group (0 animal/0%)

positive in Dusuqing group (3 animals/30%). Compared to young and aged control group

levels of sIgA and FN in BALF significantly decreased in young and aged model group (P<0.01)

and expressions of TNF-α

IL-6 and IL-8 increased in serum (P<0.01)

respectively. And those changed obviously in aged model group than in young model group (P<0.01). Compared to aged model group

levels of sIgA and FN significantly increased in Dusuqing and Azithromycin groups (P<0.01)

while lung tissue water content

TNF-α

IL-6 and IL-8 decreased (P<0.01). And sIgA levels in Dusuqing group were higher than Azithromycin group (P<0.01)

and IL-8 was lower (P<0.05). Conclusion: Dusuqing granule has obvious efficiency on MP in the elderly

which may be relevant to the improvement of immune function

reduction of inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory response.