Mechanism of Yiqi Huoxue Therapy Regulating IL-33/ST2/IL-1RAP to Improve Nasal Mucosal Tissue Remodeling and Intervene in Allergic Rhinitis
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20260735
- VernacularTitle:益气活血法调控IL-33/ST2/IL-1RAP改善鼻黏膜组织重塑干预变应性鼻炎的机制
- Author:
Huan WANG
1
;
Hongping LUO
2
;
Meiya WANG
1
;
Yuyin LIU
1
;
Chenlin WANG
3
;
Chao LIAO
3
;
Fangqi LIANG
3
;
Peizheng XIONG
1
;
Li TIAN
3
Author Information
1. Clinical Medical College， Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM）， Chengdu 610037，China
2. People's Hospital of Fengjie， Chongqing 404600，China
3. Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM， Chengdu 610037，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Qi-replenishing and blood-activating therapy;
allergic rhinitis;
interleukin-33 （IL-33）/growth stimulation expressed gene 2 （ST2）/interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein （IL-1RAP） signaling pathway;
helper T cell （Th）1/Th2 balance;
nasal mucosal remodeling
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2026;32(14):298-307
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which Qidan Yifei Tongqiao granules （QDYF） alleviate nasal mucosal remodeling in allergic rhinitis （AR） via the interleukin-33 （IL-33）/growth stimulation expressed gene 2 （ST2）/interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein （IL-1RAP） signaling pathway from the perspective of Qi-replenishing and blood-activating therapy. MethodsFirst， according to the previous network pharmacology results， this study predicted the potential mechanisms of QDYF in treating AR by screening key pathways， components， and targets. Molecular docking was performed via AutoDock and PyMOL 2.5.5. Subsequently， a rat model of ovalbumin （OVA）-induced AR was used for validation through in vivo experiments. Forty-eight rats were assigned into 6 groups： Control， model， low-dose QDYF （QDYF-L， 4.04 g·kg-1）， medium-dose QDYF （QDYF-M， 8.08 g·kg-1）， high-dose QDYF （QDYF-H， 16.16 g·kg-1）， and loratadine （0.9 mg·kg-1）. After 14 days of intervention， behavioral scores of the rats were observed. The morphological changes of nasal mucosa tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Masson staining was used to observe collagen fiber deposition in the nasal mucosal tissue and to calculate the collagen volume fraction （CVF）. The expression of E-cadherin （E-cad） in the nasal mucosa tissue was detected by immunofluorescence. The serum levels of helper T cell 2 （Th2） cytokines interleukin-4 （IL-4）， interleukin-5 （IL-5）， and interleukin-13 （IL-13） as well as helper T cell 1 （Th1） cytokines interleukin-2 （IL-2） and interferon-γ （INF-γ） were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The protein levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 （TGF-β1）， IL-33， ST2， and IL-1RAP in the nasal mucosa tissue were determined by Western blot. ResultsIL-33， ST2， and IL-1RAP had strong binding ability with the main active ingredients—wogonin， 7-methoxy-2-methylisoflavone， formononetin， naringenin， stigmasterol， and beta-sitosterol of QDYF， with the binding energy < -4.25 kcal⋅mol-1（1 cal≈4.184 J）. The results of in vivo experiments showed that compared with the control group， the model group exhibited increased behavioral scores （P<0.05）， aggravated pathological damage of nasal mucosa， increased collagen fiber deposition and CVF （P<0.05）， elevated serum levels of IL-4， IL-5， and IL-13， up-regulated protein levels of TGF-β1， IL-33， ST2， and IL-1RAP in the nasal mucosa （P<0.05）， down-regulated expression of E-cad， and declined serum levels of IL-2， IFN-γ， and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the QDYF groups and loratadine group showed reduced behavioral scores （P<0.05）， alleviated pathological damage of nasal mucosa， reduced collagen fiber deposition and CVF （P<0.05）， and up-regulated E-cad expression （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the QDYF-H group and the loratadine group showed raised levels of INF-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio （P<0.05）， declined serum levels of IL-4， IL-5， and IL-13， and down-regulated protein levels of TGF-β1， IL-33， ST2， and IL-1RAP in the nasal mucosa （P<0.05）. In addition， the QDYF-H group exhibited an elevated serum IL-2 level （P<0.05）. The QDYF-M group showed down-regulated protein levels of TGF-β1， IL-33 and IL-1RAP in the nasal mucosa （P<0.05）. The QDYF-L group demonstrated a down-regulated protein level of ST2 in the nasal mucosa （P<0.05）. ConclusionQDYF may regulate the Th1/Th2 balance through the IL-33/ST2/IL-1RAP signaling pathway， thereby ameliorating nasal mucosal tissue remodeling and alleviating AR.
