Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease（COPD）， characterized primarily by persistent airflow limitation and chronic airway inflammation， is a major chronic respiratory disease with persistently high morbidity and mortality. In recent years， macrophage pyroptosis， as an inflammatory form of programmed cell death， has been recognized as playing a key role in amplifying inflammatory responses and promoting tissue damage. According to traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） theory， spleen failing to disperse essence constitutes an important pathological basis for various chronic diseases， clinically manifesting as impaired transportation and transformation， internal generation of phlegm-dampness， and accumulation of turbid toxins. Based on a review of classical TCM pathogenesis and modern molecular biological research， this study proposes that there may be a correlation between spleen failing to disperse essence and macrophage pyroptosis in the pathogenesis of COPD. Specifically， metabolic and immune disturbances such as glucotoxicity， lipotoxicity， and enterotoxicity may trigger macrophage pyroptosis through the advanced glycation end products（AGEs）/AGEs receptor（RAGE）/reactive oxygen species（ROS）， fatty acids/Toll-like receptor 4（TLR4）， and lipopolysaccharide（LPS）/nuclear transcription factor-κB（NF-κB）/NOD-like receptor protein 3（NLRP3） signaling pathways. Excessive pyroptosis， in turn， exacerbates metabolic dysregulation and inflammatory responses， forming a vicious cycle. Furthermore， TCM interventions such as strengthening the spleen and tonifying Qi， as well as resolving dampness and detoxifying， have demonstrated potential in modulating pyroptosis-related signaling pathways， including NF-κB， the NLRP3 inflammasome， and autophagy. In summary， this article explores the role of spleen failing to disperse essence-macrophage pyroptosis mechanism in COPD and highlights possible therapeutic strategies of TCM， providing new insights for integrated Chinese and western medical research and clinical practice.

ObjectiveTo explore the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of modified Danggui Shaoyaosan on acne based on the c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK）/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38 MAPK） pathway. MethodsA rat ear acne model was established in SD rats， and the rats were divided into a blank group， a model group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose groups of modified Danggui Shaoyaosan （7.15， 14.30， 28.60 g·kg·d^-1）， with six rats in each group. After the administration for 14 consecutive days， morphological changes in the rats' auricles were observed， and hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to examine the pathological changes in the acne-affected ear tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to measure the levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in the ear tissue. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was performed to detect the mRNA expression levels of Caspase-3， B cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， JNK， and p38 MAPK in the ear tissue. Additionally， Western blot analysis was conducted to assess the protein levels of Caspase-3， Bcl-2， Bax， JNK， and p38 MAPK in the ear tissue. The active components and key targets of modified Danggui Shaoyaosan in the treatment of acne were identified through network pharmacology analysis. Molecular docking was then employed to evaluate the interactions between the main active components and the key targets. ResultsThe results of the animal experiment demonstrated that compared with those in the blank group， rats in the model group exhibited redness， swelling， thickening， hardening， dryness， and roughness of the auricle. The surface showed sebaceous scales and desquamation， accompanied by acne-like lesions such as papule-like elevations or cysts. Histopathological changes included keratinization， epidermal thickening， dermal collagen fiber degeneration and necrosis， subcutaneous muscle degeneration and necrosis， inflammatory cell infiltration， and fibrous tissue proliferation. The mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， Caspase-3， Bax， JNK， and p38 MAPK were significantly increased （P<0.01）， while those of Bcl-2 were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. In comparison to the model group， the modified Danggui Shaoyaosan groups showed marked improvement in acne-like lesions of the auricle， with varying degrees of histopathological damage reduction. Additionally， the mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， Caspase-3， Bax， JNK， and p38 MAPK in the tissue were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while those of Bcl-2 were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that the key compounds in modified Danggui Shaoyaosan responsible for its effects in treating acne may include acacetin， kaempferol， luteolin， quercetin， wogonin， and baicalein. These compounds exerted their effects by modulating core targets such as TNF， IL-1β， Caspase-3， and Bcl-2， thereby alleviating inflammation and apoptosis and ultimately improving acne symptoms. ConclusionModified Danggui Shaoyaosan may exert its therapeutic effects on acne by inhibiting the activation of the JNK/p38 MAPK pathway， thereby alleviating inflammation and apoptosis.