Objective: To explore the effect of Fuxiong cream on expressions of c-Jun n-terminal kinase (JNK) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4(MKK4) in lung tissue of rats with influenza A virus(IV) pneumonia. Method: Fifty young rats were randomly divided in the control group

the model group

the high

medium and low-dose Fuxiong cream groups (21.0

10.5

5.25 g·kg-1)

with 10 rats in each group. Except for the control group

the IV pneumonia model was induced by nose dripping with 0.1 mL rat lung adapted strain of influenza virus A/FM/47 (H1N1) in the remaining groups. After the successful modeling

the rats received Fuxiong cream for 5 days. HE staining was used to observe lung pathological histology. The expressions of JNK and MKK4 in rat lung tissue were detected by using immunohistochemical method. The mRNA expression levels of JNK and MKK4 in lung tissue were further detected by using Real-time PCR. Result: HE staining showed that the high

medium and low-dose Fuxiong cream groups could significantly improve the acute lung tissue injury degree in rats compared with the model group

and the curative effect gradually enhanced with the increase of the dose. Immunohistochemical and Real-time PCR results showed that compared with the control group

in the model group

expressions of JNK and MKK4 were obviously increased (P<0.05). Compared with model group

in high

medium and low-dose Fuxiong cream groups

expressions of JNK and MKK4 were obviously decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: The protective effect of Fuxiong cream against IV pneumonia in rats may be associated with down-regulation of JNK and MKK4.