Abstract

Guoping Liao, Wenshi Li, Shuai He and Zhongyi Zhang*

Qingkailing injection (QKLI) is a classic compound traditional Chinese medical injection (TCMI). It can cause anaphylatic shock and death in clinic. Modeling a murine model of qingkailing injection anaphylaxis appears to be essential. In this study, for the first time, we used several strategies to prepare cationic bovine serum albumin (cBSA) and QKLI-cBSA conjugate. The native bovine serum albumin (nBSA), cBSA and QKLI-cBSA conjugate were separated by cationic exchange method and also identified by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry. Balb/c mice were then treated with subcutaneous injection of QKLI-cBSA plus alum. Serum was analyzed for total IgE and histamine levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), respectively. Lung reactions were evaluated by analyzing lung pathologic changes. QKLI-cBSA group mice were significantly and successfully sensitized. QKLI-cBSA conjugate significantly increased total IgE and Histamine in Balb/c mice serum. Moreover, histological examination of QKLI-cBSA conjugate treated mice showed acute injury with pulmonary alveoli and injury of trachea, as well as neutrophilic cell infiltration. In conclusion, we successfully established a murine model of immunoglobulin-E (IgE)-mediated qingkailing injection anaphylaxis. This model should provide a useful tool for detecting allergens in QKLI and for exploring new allergens-detecting approaches of other TCMIs.