Objective: To discuss the effect of Jiawei Yinchenhao decoction on the acute airway inflammation and its possible mechanism in the of dampness-heat asthma rat. Method: Fifty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups:control group

dampness-heat asthma model group and Jiawei Yinchenhao decoction low dose group

Jiawei Yinchenhao decoction high dose group

dexamethasone group

10 rats in each group.The dampness-heat asthma model was induced by multi-factors. The rats in dampness-heat asthma groups were fed with medicine from 16th day of the experiment. The rats were killed within 24 h after the last asthma provocation test to collect abdominal aortic blood and lung tissue specimens for testing indexes. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) was collected

the total cell and the cell differentials were counted

the level of interleukin-2(IL-2)

IL-4

IL-5

IL-6

and interferon-γ(IFN-γ) in BALF were measured by ELISA.The expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) in airway was detected by immunohistochemistry technique.With glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GAPDH)being a control

airway tissue extracts were used for detecting STAT3/GAPDH expression level by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the data. Result: Compared with the control group

the level of IL-2 and IFN-γ in BALF of the other groups was declined while IL-4

IL-5 and IL-6 level was higher than that in the control group. Compared with the dampness-heat asthma group

the IL-4

IL-5 and IL-6 level in treatment groups was significantly lower than that in the model group(P<0.05)

while IL-2

IFN-γ was higher. The level of IL-6

STAT3 and STAT3/GAPDH had positive correlations with IL-4

IL-5 and IL-6 in BALF(P<0.05) and negative correlations with IL-2

IFN-γ.All the treatment group could reduce airway inflammation. Conclusion: Clearing heat and removing dampness and phlegm mothed could reduce the acute airway inflammation

its efficacy is dose-related

the Chinese medicine low dose group has better effect. Its mechanism may be related to inhibition of IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway to regulate the expression of Thl/Th2 cytokine imbalance.