Expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum after treated with methylprednisolone combined with azithromycin in children with bronchopneumonia

Objective: To observe the changes of the levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in serum of young bacterial bronchopneumonia model mice after treated with methylprednisolone combined with azithromycin. Methods: 36 BALB/c established bronchopneumonia model mice were divided into model group, blank control group and treatment group. Mice in the model group were not treated, the blank control group was given normal saline, and the treatment group was administrated with methylprednisolone combined with azithromycin. 12 mice with the same age (male and female) were selected as normal group. The pathological morphology of lung was observed by HE staining, and the levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in serum were detected by ELISA on the 1st day and the 7th day. Results: The inflammatory response and secretion of the respiratory epithelium in the left main bronchus of the model mice were increased with the swelling of the ciliated epithelial cells of the airway surface. The 7th day's observation after treatment showed that the inflammatory response of the left main bronchus was more obvious in model group, and the epithelial cells were disarranged with the cilia and cell necrosis. The levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in serum of the treated group mice were significantly higher than those of normal mice (P=0.000). On the 7th day after treatment, the levels of serum IL-6 and TNF-alpha in the model group were decreased. Conclusion: Methylprednisolone with azithromycin can significantly improve the inflammatory response and can effectively reduce lung injury in pneumonia mice.