Mechanism of 2,6-DMBQ attenuates airway inflammatory responses in asthmatic mice via the mTOR signaling pathway.
10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2411067
- Author:
Juan LI
1
;
Shu-Fang LI
1
;
Xiao-Man XIONG
1
;
Qiu-Yan YANG
1
;
Xue-Li XIE
1
;
Yan-Li ZHANG
1
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
2,6-Dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone;
Bronchial asthma;
Mammalian target of rapamycin pathway;
Mouse;
Th17/Treg imbalance
- MeSH:
Animals;
Asthma/pathology*;
Mice, Inbred BALB C;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*;
Mice;
TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/physiology*;
Female;
Benzoquinones/pharmacology*;
Immunoglobulin E/blood*;
Interleukin-10/analysis*;
Interleukin-17/analysis*;
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid;
Lung/pathology*
- From:
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics
2025;27(4):472-479
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES:To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (2,6-DMBQ) in a mouse model of asthma.
METHODS:SPF-grade BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 7 groups (n=8 each group): normal control group, ovalbumin (OVA) group, dimethyl sulfoxide+corn oil group, budesonide (BUD) group, and low, medium, and high dose 2,6-DMBQ groups. An asthma mouse model was established by OVA induction, followed by corresponding drug interventions. Non-invasive lung function tests were performed to measure airway hyperresponsiveness, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine levels of interleukin (IL)-17, IL-10, and serum immunoglobulin E in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. A cell counter was employed to detect eosinophil counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, while hematoxylin-eosin staining and periodic acid-Schiff staining were used to assess lung tissue pathological changes. Western blot was conducted to examine the expression of proteins related to the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway (p-AKT/AKT and p-p70S6K/p70S6K), and a fully automated biochemical analyzer was used to evaluate liver and kidney functions.
RESULTS:Compared with the normal control group, the OVA group showed increased enhanced pause values, inflammation scores from hematoxylin-eosin staining, positive area from periodic acid-Schiff staining, percentage of eosinophils, IL-17/IL-10 ratio, serum immunoglobulin E levels, and relative expression levels of p-AKT/AKT and p-p70S6K/p70S6K (P<0.05). The BUD group and the medium and high dose 2,6-DMBQ groups exhibited decreased values for these indicators compared to the OVA group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:2,6-DMBQ can inhibit the mTOR pathway to alleviate airway inflammation in asthmatic mice, possibly by mitigating the imbalance between Th17 and regulatory T cells.
