Regulatory Mechanisms of Programmed Cell Death in Acute Lung Injury and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention： A Review
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20251716
- VernacularTitle:程序性细胞死亡在急性肺损伤中的调控机制及中医药干预研究进展
- Author:
Dacheng TIAN
1
;
Wanjin LIU
1
;
Yiwei CHEN
1
;
Yanwen WANG
1
;
Yixuan BAI
1
;
Jinhui XU
2
;
Shuaichun LIU
3
;
Xingfang LI
2
Author Information
1. School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine， Gansu University of Chinese Medicine， Lanzhou 730000，China
2. Gansu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine， Lanzhou 730050， China
3. Liangzhou Hospital， Wuwei 733000，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
acute lung injury;
programmed cell death;
traditional Chinese medicine;
molecular mechanisms;
research progress
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2026;32(21):307-319
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Acute lung injury （ALI） is a life-threatening condition characterized by uncontrolled pulmonary inflammatory responses， presenting high morbidity and mortality rates that pose serious threats to patient health. The pathogenesis of ALI involves complex interactions among pathological mechanisms including immune-inflammatory responses， disruption of the alveolar-capillary barrier， mesenchymal stem cell dysfunction， metabolic disorders， ferroptosis， and alterations in the gut microbiota. The dysregulation of programmed cell death （PCD） has increasingly emerged as a research focus. PCD represents a genetically regulated autonomous process of cell death， crucial for maintaining the internal stability of organisms. Recent studies indicate that multiple PCD modes， including apoptosis， pyroptosis， necroptosis， autophagy， and ferroptosis， participate in the development and progression of ALI by mediating pathological processes such as alveolar epithelial cell injury and vascular endothelial barrier disruption. Current therapeutic approaches for ALI encompass lung-protective ventilation， body fluid management， mesenchymal stem cell therapy， and pharmacological interventions. While these measures may alleviate clinical symptoms， they remain unable to reverse the pathological progression of lung injury. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） possesses the unique advantages of a holistic perspective and syndrome differentiation-based treatment， achieving breakthrough progress in targeted PCD intervention for ALI. It can mitigate pulmonary tissue injury by suppressing inflammatory responses， regulating immune function， and improving coagulation disorders， thereby delaying the onset and progression of ALI. This paper delves into the molecular mechanisms of PCD in ALI， systematically reviewing the effects of TCM extracts， active constituents （terpenoids， saponins， flavonoids， and phenols）， and compound formulas （e.g.， Qingjie Huagong prescription， Maxing Kugan Tang， and Yifei Jianpi prescription） in improving pulmonary epithelial cell function and mitigating lung injury by modulating PCD pathways. This review aims to provide theoretical underpinnings and novel directions for drug development in the clinical prevention and treatment of ALI.
