1.Intervention Effects of Formulas Containing Ephedrae Herba and Armeniacae Semen Amarum on Asthma in Mice and Their Regulatory Effects on Thermosensitive TRP Channels
Mengwen LI ; Yuhao FAN ; Xinsheng FAN ; Yaojing YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):32-40
ObjectiveTo investigate the differences in the regulatory effects of formulas containing Ephedrae Herba and Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Mahuangtang, Sanaotang, and Maxing Shigantang) on thermosensitive transient receptor potential ion channels (thermo TRPs) in the mouse model of asthmatic airway inflammation. MethodsSixty female C57BL/6 mice were allocated into blank, model, dexamethasone (0.75 mg·kg-1), Mahuangtang (3.8 g·kg-1), Sanaotang (2.8 g·kg-1), and Maxing Shigantang (6.6 g·kg-1) groups (n=10). The mouse model of asthma was established with ovalbumin (OVA) and treated with normal saline (blank group) or corresponding drugs (10 mL·kg-1), once a day, 19-28 days after modeling. The levels of eosinophils (EOS) in peripheral blood and white blood cell (WBC) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), changes in enhanced pause (Penh), and pathological damage of lung tissue were observed in each group. Western blot and real-time PCR were employed to quantify the protein and mRNA levels, respectively, of high-temperature thermosensitive channels (TRPV1 and TRPV3) and low-temperature thermosensitive channels (TRPA1 and TRPM8) in the lung tissue. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed a typical asthma phenotype, including elevations in the level of EOS in peripheral blood, level of WBC in BALF, and value of Penh (P<0.05,P<0.01), and severe lung tissue damage. Compared with the model group, the three formulas alleviated the asthma phenotype to varying degrees (P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the model group showed up-regulated protein levels of TRPV1 and TRPA1 in the lung tissue (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, Maxing Shigantang and Sanaotang groups showed down-regulated protein levels of TRPV1 and TRPA1 (P<0.05, P<0.01). Moreover, Maxing Shigantang and Sanaotang groups showed more significant down-regulation in protein levels of TRPV1 and TRPA1, respectively (P<0.01), while no obvious regulatory effect was observed in the Mahuangtang group. Compared with those in the blank group, the protein levels of TRPV3 and TRPM8 were up-regulated in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, Maxing Shigantang and Sanaotang down-regulated the protein levels of TRPV3 and TRPM8 (P<0.01). Moreover, Maxing Shigantang and Sanaotang exerted stronger down-regulating effects on TRPV3 (P<0.05) and TRPM8 (P<0.01), respectively. Compared with the blank group, the model group presented up-regulated mRNA levels of TRPV1, TRPV3, TRPA1, and TRPM8 in the lung tissue (P<0.01), and such up-regulations were significantly decreased by Maxing Shigantang and Sanaotang (P<0.01). Moreover, Maxing Shigantang outperformed Sanaotang in regulating high-temperature thermosensitive channels TRPV1 and TRPV3 (P<0.05, P<0.01). The regulation effect of the, Maxing Shigantang on high-temperature thermosensory channel proteins of TRPV1 and TRPV3 was better than that of the Sanaotang P<0.05P<0.01while the Sanaotang outperformedhad a significant regulatory effect on Maxing Shigantang in regulating the low-temperature thermosensory thermosensitive channel proteins of TRPA1 and TRPM8which was better than that of the Maxing Shigantang (P<0.05,P<0.01). ConclusionThe experimental results showed that Mahuangtang, Sanaotang, and Maxing Shigantang all had protective effects on asthma airway inflammation.while Mahuangtang did not show the regulatory effect on TRPV1 and or TRPA1. Maxing Shigantang preferred to regulate high-temperature thermosensory thermosensitive channels of TRPV1 and TRPV3 channels, and Sanaotang preferred to regulate low-temperature thermosensory thermosensitive channels of TRPA1 and TRPM8.

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