Abstract: Objective To explore protective effects of neosperidin dihydrochalcone (NHDC) on air-blood barrier injury in influenza virus infected mouse model. Methods The pneumonia model was established by infection of influenza virus. Model mice were treated with NHDC at different dose by gavage. The pulmonary index, wet/dry mass (W/D) ratio and the pathological changes of lung tissue stained with HE were investigated. The levels of serum IL-6, LTB₄ and ICAM-1 were determined by ELISA, while expression of aquaporin 5 (AQP5) was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results After challenge, the infected mice had obvious increase in pulmonary index and W/D ratio, which manifested by accumlation of significant numbers of neutrophils, accompanied by marked pulmonary edema and high levels of serum IL-6, LTB₄ and ICAM-1. The expression of AQP5 was also significantly increased in the lung of infected mice. However, oral administration of NHDC significantly reversed those adverse factors. Conclusion Influenza virus could cause air-blood barrier damage in the lung of infected mice, and it may be related to the expression of AQP5. NHDC shows obvious effect to the injury.

Key words: Neosperidin dihydrochalcone(NHDC), Influenza Virus, Air-blood Barrier Injury, Aquaporin 5(AQP5)