Abstract: Objective To explore the change of IL-1β and IL-18 expression in pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline. Methods Divide the mouses into two groups, normal control group and experimental group (n=10). Establish ratspulmonary hypertension model induced by monocrotaline. Detect the model by ultrasound, myocardial cells HE dyeing and tunnel test; ELISA was used to detect the serum biological markers’ level of NF-κB, COX2, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-αand NO; Immunohistochemical was used to detect the expression level of IL-1β and IL-18 in the lung tissue; the protein change of NLRP3 in the lung tissue was detected by Western blot. Results Serum biological markers’ level of NF-κB, COX2, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and NO are significantly increased in PAH rats (P<0.05);The expression ofIL-1β, IL-18 in the lung tissueincreased obviously (P<0.05); The NLRP3 protein expression was significantly higher in experimental group. Conclusions Changes of NLRP3 effect the increasing expression of IL-1β and IL-18 plays an important role in pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline.

Key words: pulmonary arterial hypertension, NLRP3 inflammasome, IL-1β, IL-18