OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efficacy of Tiaobu Feishen formulae (TBFS),including Bufei Jianpi formula (BJF),Bufei Yishen formula (BYF),and Yiqi Zishen formula (YZF),on inflammatory response,protease-anti-protease imbalance and collagen deposition in rats.METHODS;In present work,we used an in vitro model of cigarette smoking extract (CSE)-and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced A549 cells to examine the efficacy of BJF,BYF and YZF on the production of inflammatory cytokines,including TNF-αand interleukin (IL)-8,IL-6,matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-9,and IL-10 in CSE or TNF-α-induced A549 cells.And their related transcription factors and signaling pathway were also analyzed.RESULTS:The results showed that BJF,BYF and YZF could significantly decrease the expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by CSE or TNF-α.Furthermore,BJF,BYF and YZF could suppress CSE-or TNF-α-induced activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-KB) transcription factors and its corresponding pathways.Taken together,these data implied that BJF,BYF and YZF effectively inhibited CSE-or TNF-α-induced inflammatory response in alveolar epithelial cell,which was due to their inhibition effect on NF-κB pathways.CONCLUSION:Our findings suggest that the Tiaobu Feishen therapies may protect human alveolar epithelial cells against cigarette smoking and TNF-α-induced inflammation.NF-KB pathway may involve in the actions.