Figure 3.

Treatment with erythromycin decreases the levels of TNF-α, IL-8 in the lungs of rats. The levels of TNF-α and IL-8 in BALF of individual rats were analyzed by ELISA. Data shown are mean values of individual samples from three separate experiments and mean values for each group of rats (n = 10). Group N: rats exposed to regular air without any special treatment; Group C: rats exposed to regular air and were treated with erythromycin; Group S: rats exposed to smoking air and were treated with saline; and Group E: rats exposed to smoking air and were treated with erythromycin daily for nine weeks beginning at the forth weeks smoking. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.