1.Da Chaihutang for Treatment of Sepsis with Yang Syndrome:A Randomized Controlled Trial
Na HUANG ; Guangmei CHEN ; Xingyu KAO ; Zhen YANG ; Weixian XU ; Kang YUAN ; Junna LEI ; Jingli CHEN ; Mingfeng HE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):55-63
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy and safety of Da Chaihutang (DCH) for the treatment of sepsis with Yang syndrome. MethodsA total of 70 patients suffering from sepsis with Yang syndrome were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 35 cases in each group. They both received standard Western medicine treatment. The observation group was additionally given a dose of DCH, which was boiled into 100 mL and taken twice. The control group was additionally given an equal volume and dosage of warm water. The intervention lasted for three days. The 28-day all-cause mortality and the changes in the following indicators before and after intervention were compared between the two groups, including sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score,white blood cell (WBC),the percentage of neutrophils (NEU%),C-reactive protein (CRP),procalcitonin (PCT),alanine transaminase (ALT),aspartate transaminase (AST),total bilirubin (TBil),creatinine (Cr),blood urea nitrogen (BUN),acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) grade,gastrointestinal dysfunction score (GDS),serum intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (iFABP), citrulline (CR),platelet (PLT),prothrombin time(PT),activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT),fibrinogen (Fib),international normalized ratio (INR),and D-dimer (D-D). ResultsThere was no significant difference between the two groups regarding 28-day all-cause mortality. After the intervention,SOFA,WBC,PCT,and Cr were significantly decreased, and PLT was significantly increased in the control group (P<0.05). SOFA,APACHE Ⅱ,NEU%,CRP,PCT,ALT,AST,Cr,BUN,AGI grade,GDS,and serum iFABP and CR were significantly improved in the observation group (P<0.05). After the intervention,APACHE Ⅱ,PCT,AGI grade,GDS,and serum iFABP in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ,while CR and PLT were higher (P<0.05,P<0.01). There were significant differences regarding the gap of SOFA,APACHE Ⅱ,AST,TBil,AGI grade,GDS,iFABP,CR, and PLT between the two groups (P<0.05,P<0.01). There were slight differences regarding PT,APTT,Fib,INR,and D-D between the two groups,which were in the clinical normal range. ConclusionOn the basis of Western medicine, DCH helped to reduce sepsis severity and improved multiple organ dysfunction with high clinical efficacy and safety, but further research on its impact on the prognosis of patients with sepsis is still required.
2.Role of SWI/SNF Chromatin Remodeling Complex in Tumor Drug Resistance
Gui-Zhen ZHU ; Qiao YE ; Yuan LUO ; Jie PENG ; Lu WANG ; Zhao-Ting YANG ; Feng-Sen DUAN ; Bing-Qian GUO ; Zhu-Song MEI ; Guang-Yun WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):20-31
Tumor drug resistance is an important problem in the failure of chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy, which is a complex process involving chromatin remodeling. SWI/SNF is one of the most studied ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes in tumorigenesis, which plays an important role in the coordination of chromatin structural stability, gene expression, and post-translation modification. However, its mechanism in tumor drug resistance has not been systematically combed. SWI/SNF can be divided into 3 types according to its subunit composition: BAF, PBAF, and ncBAF. These 3 subtypes all contain two mutually exclusive ATPase catalytic subunits (SMARCA2 or SMARCA4), core subunits (SMARCC1 and SMARCD1), and regulatory subunits (ARID1A, PBRM1, and ACTB, etc.), which can control gene expression by regulating chromatin structure. The change of SWI/SNF complex subunits is one of the important factors of tumor drug resistance and progress. SMARCA4 and ARID1A are the most widely studied subunits in tumor drug resistance. Low expression of SMARCA4 can lead to the deletion of the transcription inhibitor of the BCL2L1 gene in mantle cell lymphoma, which will result in transcription up-regulation and significant resistance to the combination therapy of ibrutinib and venetoclax. Low expression of SMARCA4 and high expression of SMARCA2 can activate the FGFR1-pERK1/2 signaling pathway in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma cells, which induces the overexpression of anti-apoptosis gene BCL2 and results in carboplatin resistance. SMARCA4 deletion can up-regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by activating YAP1 gene expression in triple-negative breast cancer. It can also reduce the expression of Ca2+ channel IP3R3 in ovarian and lung cancer, resulting in the transfer of Ca2+ needed to induce apoptosis from endoplasmic reticulum to mitochondria damage. Thus, these two tumors are resistant to cisplatin. It has been found that verteporfin can overcome the drug resistance induced by SMARCA4 deletion. However, this inhibitor has not been applied in clinical practice. Therefore, it is a promising research direction to develop SWI/SNF ATPase targeted drugs with high oral bioavailability to treat patients with tumor resistance induced by low expression or deletion of SMARCA4. ARID1A deletion can activate the expression of ANXA1 protein in HER2+ breast cancer cells or down-regulate the expression of progesterone receptor B protein in endometrial cancer cells. The drug resistance of these two tumor cells to trastuzumab or progesterone is induced by activating AKT pathway. ARID1A deletion in ovarian cancer can increase the expression of MRP2 protein and make it resistant to carboplatin and paclitaxel. ARID1A deletion also can up-regulate the phosphorylation levels of EGFR, ErbB2, and RAF1 oncogene proteins.The ErbB and VEGF pathway are activated and EMT is increased. As a result, lung adenocarcinoma is resistant to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). Although great progress has been made in the research on the mechanism of SWI/SNF complex inducing tumor drug resistance, most of the research is still at the protein level. It is necessary to comprehensively and deeply explore the detailed mechanism of drug resistance from gene, transcription, protein, and metabolite levels by using multi-omics techniques, which can provide sufficient theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of poor tumor prognosis caused by mutation or abnormal expression of SWI/SNF subunits in clinical practice.
3.Renshentang Alleviates Atherosclerosis in Mice by Targeting TRPV1 to Regulate Foam Cell Cholesterol Metabolism
Yulu YUAN ; Ce CHU ; Xuguang TAO ; Zhen YANG ; Xiangyun CHEN ; Zhanzhan HE ; Yongqi XU ; Yuxin ZHANG ; Peizhang ZHAO ; Wanping CHEN ; Hongxia ZHAO ; Wenlai WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):11-19
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Renshentang on atherosclerosis (AS) in mice based on the role of transient receptor potential vanilloid1 (TRPV1) in regulating cholesterol metabolism in foam cells. MethodsNine SPF-grade 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice were set as a normal group, and 60 ApoE-/- mice were randomized into model, positive drug (simvastatin, 0.02 g·kg-1·d-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose (1.77, 3.54, 7.08 g·kg-1·d-1, respectively) Renshentang groups (n=12) according to body weight. The normal group was fed with a normal diet, and the other groups were fed with a high-fat diet and given corresponding drugs by oral gavage for the modeling of AS. The mice were administrated with corresponding drugs once a day for 12 weeks. After the last administration and fasting for 12 h, the aorta was collected. Plaque conditions, pathological changes, levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglcerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and the expression of TRPV1, liver X receptor (LXR), inducible degrader of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (IDOL), and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) in the aortic tissue were observed and detected by gross oil red O staining, HE staining, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and real-time PCR. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the model group presented obvious plaque deposition in the aorta, raised levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C in the serum (P<0.01), up-regulated expression level of LDLR in the aorta (P<0.01), lowered level of HDL-C in the serum, and down-regulated expression levels of TRPV1, LXR, and IDOL in the aorta (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the positive drug and Renshentang at different doses alleviated AS, elevated the levels of HDL-C, TRPV1, LXR, and IDOL (P<0.05, P<0.01), while lowering the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and LDLR (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionRenshentang has a lipid-lowering effect on AS mice. It can effectively reduce lipid deposition, lipid levels, and plaque area of AS mice by activating TRPV1 expression and regulating the LXR/IDOL/LDLR pathway.
4.Renshentang Alleviates Atherosclerosis in Mice by Targeting TRPV1 to Regulate Foam Cell Cholesterol Metabolism
Yulu YUAN ; Ce CHU ; Xuguang TAO ; Zhen YANG ; Xiangyun CHEN ; Zhanzhan HE ; Yongqi XU ; Yuxin ZHANG ; Peizhang ZHAO ; Wanping CHEN ; Hongxia ZHAO ; Wenlai WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):11-19
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Renshentang on atherosclerosis (AS) in mice based on the role of transient receptor potential vanilloid1 (TRPV1) in regulating cholesterol metabolism in foam cells. MethodsNine SPF-grade 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice were set as a normal group, and 60 ApoE-/- mice were randomized into model, positive drug (simvastatin, 0.02 g·kg-1·d-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose (1.77, 3.54, 7.08 g·kg-1·d-1, respectively) Renshentang groups (n=12) according to body weight. The normal group was fed with a normal diet, and the other groups were fed with a high-fat diet and given corresponding drugs by oral gavage for the modeling of AS. The mice were administrated with corresponding drugs once a day for 12 weeks. After the last administration and fasting for 12 h, the aorta was collected. Plaque conditions, pathological changes, levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglcerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and the expression of TRPV1, liver X receptor (LXR), inducible degrader of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (IDOL), and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) in the aortic tissue were observed and detected by gross oil red O staining, HE staining, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and real-time PCR. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the model group presented obvious plaque deposition in the aorta, raised levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C in the serum (P<0.01), up-regulated expression level of LDLR in the aorta (P<0.01), lowered level of HDL-C in the serum, and down-regulated expression levels of TRPV1, LXR, and IDOL in the aorta (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the positive drug and Renshentang at different doses alleviated AS, elevated the levels of HDL-C, TRPV1, LXR, and IDOL (P<0.05, P<0.01), while lowering the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and LDLR (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionRenshentang has a lipid-lowering effect on AS mice. It can effectively reduce lipid deposition, lipid levels, and plaque area of AS mice by activating TRPV1 expression and regulating the LXR/IDOL/LDLR pathway.
5.Mechanism of Zhishi Xiebai Guizhitang in Treating AS Based on Regulation of Cholesterol Metabolism in Foam Cells by TRPA1
Zhanzhan HE ; Zhen YANG ; Xuguang TAO ; Xiangyun CHEN ; Wei DING ; Ce CHU ; Yulu YUAN ; Yuxin ZHANG ; Yongqi XU ; Peizhang ZHAO ; Hongxia ZHAO ; Wenlai WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(10):1-10
ObjectiveTo explore the effect and mechanism of Zhishi Xiebai Guizhitang on the progression of atherosclerosis (AS) mice based on the regulation of cholesterol metabolism in foam cells by transient receptor potential channel ankyrin 1 (TRPA1). MethodThe AS model was established on apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice with a high-fat diet. The mice were randomly divided into low-dose, middle-dose, and high-dose groups of Zhishi Xiebai Guizhitang (2.97, 5.94, 11.88 g·kg-1) and simvastatin group (0.002 g·kg-1), and the drug was administered along with a high-fat diet. C57BL/6J mice were fed an ordinary diet as a normal group. After the above process, the aorta and serum of mice were taken. The pathological changes of the aortic root were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The lipid plaques in the aorta were observed by gross oil redness. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were detected, and the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot and immunohistochemical method were used to analyze the expression of TRPA1, ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1), and mannose receptor (CD206). ResultFrom the perspective of drug efficacy, compared with the normal group, pathological changes such as plaque, a large number of foam cells, and cholesterol crystals appeared in the aorta of the model group, and the serum levels of TC, LDL-C, IL-1β, and IL-18 were significantly increased (P<0.01). The HDL-C level was significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the CD206 level in aortic tissue was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the lipid deposition in the aorta was alleviated in all drug administration groups. In addition, except for the high-dose group of Zhishi Xiebai Guizhitang, all drug administration groups could significantly decrease the levels of TC and LDL-C (P<0.01). In terms of inflammation, except for the middle-dose group of Zhishi Xiebai Guizhitang, the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly decreased in all drug administration groups (P<0.05). Moreover, Zhishi Xiebai Guizhitang could also up-regulate the levels of CD206, and the difference was significant in the middle-dose and high-dose groups (P<0.05). From the perspective of mechanism, the expression levels of TRPA1, ABCA1, and ABCG1 in the aorta in the model group were lower than those in the normal group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, all drug administration groups significantly increased the expression of TRPA1 in the aorta (P<0.05), and the expressions of ABCA1 and ABCG1 were increased. The differences in the middle-dose and high-dose groups and the simvastatin group were significant (P<0.05), which was basically consistent with the trend of immunohistochemical results. ConclusionZhishi Xiebai Guizhitang can effectively reduce blood lipid and inflammation levels and inhibit the formation of aortic plaque. The mechanism may be explained as follows: the expressions of ABCA1 and ABCG1 downstream are increased through TRPA1, which promotes cholesterol outflow in foam cells, thereby regulating cholesterol metabolism, intervening in inflammation level to a certain extent, and finally treating AS.
6.Effect and Mechanism of Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Osteoporosis
Yulu YUAN ; Zhen YANG ; Wei DING ; Ce CHU ; Xuguang TAO ; Xiangyun CHEN ; Zhanzhan HE ; Peizhang ZHAO ; Yongqi XU ; Yuxin ZHANG ; Hongxia ZHAO ; Wenlai WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(4):290-298
Osteoporosis (OP) is a common bone disease affecting the quality of life and causing huge medical burden to the patients and society. The occurrence of OP is mainly caused by excessive bone resorption and insufficient bone formation, which are directly influenced by external calcium ion balance. Calcium imbalance can impair bone integrity, reduce the calcium supply to the bone, and lower the calcium content in the bone, thus triggering OP. Drugs are the main anti-OP therapy in modern medicine, which, however, may cause adverse reactions and drug dependence. Chinese medicines have good clinical effects and high safety in treating OP, being suitable for long-term use. Recent studies have shown that Chinese medicines can alleviate estrogen deficiency, regulate bone cell and calcium metabolism, which is crucial for the formation and development of OP. The transient receptor potential cation channel superfamily V members 5 and 6 (TRPV5 and TRPV6, respectively) affect bone homeostasis by mediating the transmembrane calcium ion transport in the intestine (TRPV6) and kidney (TRPV5). Therefore, TRPV5/6 is one of the key targets to understand the anti-OP mechanisms of the effective parts of Chinese medicines, which is worthy of further study. This paper summarizes the research results about the anti-OP effects of Chinese medicines in the last two decades, especially the mechanism of regulating calcium metabolism, aiming to provide new ideas for the basic research, clinical application, and drug development of OP treatment.
7.Effects of Aβ receptor PirB on mouse astrocyte proliferation and reactive astrogliosis
Yuan-Jie ZHAO ; Zhen-Jie TUO ; Pei-Jun SHANG ; Jin-Wen YANG ; Xiao-Hua ZHANG
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2024;49(1):82-90
Objective To observe the effects of amyloid-β(Aβ)receptor PirB on mouse astrocyte proliferation and reactive astrogliosis in vitro.Methods Mouse primary astrocytes were cultured,and divided into control group,Aβ group,Aβ+0.2 μmol/L PEP group,Aβ+0.4 μmol/L PEP group,Aβ+Fluspirilene group,Aβ+GFP-LV group,and Aβ+mPirB-LV group.The mouse astrocytes were treated with soluble PirB extracellular peptide PEP or PirB inhibitor Fluspirilene,respectively,to inhibit endogenous PirB receptor,or overexpressed PirB gene via lentivirus transfection and then treated with Aβ1-42 oligomers.The proliferation of astrocytes was observed by RTCA and EdU methods,and the mRNA expression levels of S-100 calcium-binding protein B(S-100β),Vimentin,Nestin and amyloid precursor protein(APP)associated with reactive astrogliosis of astrocytes were observed by real-time PCR,and the expression level of glial fibrillary acid protein(GFAP)was detected by Western-blotting.Results The results of RTCA monitoring showed that normalized cell index(NCI)values of each group decreased sharply after treatment,and then increased gradually and tended to be stable.The results of EdU staining showed that the proliferative activity of astrocytes was significantly enhanced in the Aβ group(P<0.05)compared with control group;Compared with Aβ group,cell proliferation activity in Aβ + 0.2 μmol/L PEP group,Aβ+0.4 μmol/L PEP group and Aβ+Fluspirilene group were significantly decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.001).The results of real-time PCR showed that compared with control group,mRNA expressions of GFAP,S-100β,Vimentin,Nestin,APP and PirB in Aβ group were significantly increased(P<0.05);Compared with Aβ group,mRNA expressions of GFAP,S-100β,Vimentin,Nestin,APP and PirB in Aβ+0.4 μmol/L PEP group were significantly decreased(P<0.01);Compared with Aβ+GFP-LV group,mRNA expressions of GFAP,S-100β,Vimentin,Nestin,APP and PirB in Aβ +mPirB-LV group were significantly increased(P<0.05).The results of Western blotting showed that compared with control group,the expression of GFAP in Aβ group was significantly increased(P<0.05);Compared with Aβ group,the expression of GFAP in Aβ+0.4 μmol/L PEP group was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusions PirB is an upstream molecule which could regulate astrocyte proliferation and reactive astrogliosis,and inhibiting PirB receptor in astrocytes may be a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
8.Association between air pollutants and pediatric outpatient volumes in Baoshan District
YUAN Zhen ; SHEN Xianbiao ; JI Peng ; YAN Lili ; YANG Cheng
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;36(2):143-146
Objective:
To explore the relationship between air pollutants and pediatric outpatient volumes in Baoshan District, Shanghai Municipality.
Methods:
Data of meteorological factors, air pollutants and pediatric outpatient volumes in four general hospitals were collected in Baoshan District from 2015 to 2019, and a generalized additive model was used to fit the Poisson-like distribution. The exposure-response relationship between fine particulate matter (PM2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and total pediatric outpatient volumes and pediatric respiratory outpatients.
Results:
The median of the average daily temperature and relative humidity were 18.7 (interquartile range, 14.4) ℃ and 74.5% (interquartile range, 18.0%) in Baoshan District from 2015 to 2019, respectively. The median of the average daily concentrations of PM2.5, SO2, NO2 and O3 were 35.0 (interquartile range, 35.0), 11.0 (interquartile range, 7.0), 45.0 (interquartile range, 31.8) and 84.5 (interquartile range, 50.0) μg/m3, respectively. The median of the average daily total and respiratory pediatric outpatient volumes were 680 (interquartile range, 246) and 392 (interquartile range, 253). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that temperature, relative humidity, PM2.5, SO2, NO2 and O3 were associated with total and respiratory pediatric outpatient volume (all P<0.05). Under the single pollutant model, the excess risk of total and respiratory pediatric outpatient volume due to PM2.5 (ER=0.318, 0.257), SO2 (ER=1.610, 2.546), and NO2 (ER=0.808, 0.839) reached the maximum effect on the same day, and the effect of O3 (ER=0.102, 0.222) reached its maximum at the first day of lag. Under the multi-pollutant model, after O3, SO2, NO2 and PM2.5 were introduced, a exposure-response relationship between air pollutants and total pediatric outpatient volumes was the largest on the sixth day after the lag (ER=0.419). There was no exposure-response relationship between air pollutants and respiratory pediatric outpatient volumes.
Conclusion
PM2.5, SO2, NO2 and O3 are associated with total and respiratory pediatric outpatient volumes, and the lag effects due to different air pollutants are different.
9.Species-level Microbiota of Biting Midges and Ticks from Poyang Lake
Jian GONG ; Fei Fei WANG ; Qing Yang LIU ; Ji PU ; Zhi Ling DONG ; Hui Si ZHANG ; Zhou Zhen HUANG ; Yuan Yu HUANG ; Ben Ya LI ; Xin Cai YANG ; Meihui Yuan TAO ; Jun Li ZHAO ; Dong JIN ; Yun Li LIU ; Jing YANG ; Shan LU
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(3):266-277,中插1-中插3
Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the bacterial communities of biting midges and ticks collected from three sites in the Poyang Lake area,namely,Qunlu Practice Base,Peach Blossom Garden,and Huangtong Animal Husbandry,and whether vectors carry any bacterial pathogens that may cause diseases to humans,to provide scientific basis for prospective pathogen discovery and disease prevention and control. Methods Using a metataxonomics approach in concert with full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing and operational phylogenetic unit(OPU)analysis,we characterized the species-level microbial community structure of two important vector species,biting midges and ticks,including 33 arthropod samples comprising 3,885 individuals,collected around Poyang Lake. Results A total of 662 OPUs were classified in biting midges,including 195 known species and 373 potentially new species,and 618 OPUs were classified in ticks,including 217 known species and 326 potentially new species.Surprisingly,OPUs with potentially pathogenicity were detected in both arthropod vectors,with 66 known species of biting midges reported to carry potential pathogens,including Asaia lannensis and Rickettsia bellii,compared to 50 in ticks,such as Acinetobacter lwoffii and Staphylococcus sciuri.We found that Proteobacteria was the most dominant group in both midges and ticks.Furthermore,the outcomes demonstrated that the microbiota of midges and ticks tend to be governed by a few highly abundant bacteria.Pantoea sp7 was predominant in biting midges,while Coxiella sp1 was enriched in ticks.Meanwhile,Coxiella spp.,which may be essential for the survival of Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann,were detected in all tick samples.The identification of dominant species and pathogens of biting midges and ticks in this study serves to broaden our knowledge associated to microbes of arthropod vectors. Conclusion Biting midges and ticks carry large numbers of known and potentially novel bacteria,and carry a wide range of potentially pathogenic bacteria,which may pose a risk of infection to humans and animals.The microbial communities of midges and ticks tend to be dominated by a few highly abundant bacteria.
10.Linggui Zhugantang Treats Chronic Bronchitis in Rats via PLA2-TRPV1/TRPA1 Pathway
Wei DING ; Wenlai WANG ; Zhenhong LIU ; Xiangyun CHEN ; Zhanzhan HE ; Ce CHU ; Yulu YUAN ; Yongqi XU ; Yuxin ZHANG ; Peizhang ZHAO ; Zhen YANG ; Hongxia ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(14):1-9
ObjectiveTo study the effect and mechanism of Linggui Zhugantang in treating chronic bronchitis (CB) induced by exposure to cigarette smoke combined with tracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). MethodSixty SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into normal, model, dexamethasone (1 mg·kg-1), and high-, medium-, and low-dose (30.06, 15.03, 7.515 g·kg-1, respectively) Linggui Zhugantang groups by the body weight stratification method, with 10 rats in each group. Each group was administrated with 200 μL LPS (1 g·L-1) by tracheal instillation on days 1 and 14, respectively, while the normal group was administrated with an equal volume of normal saline. Except the normal group, the other groups were exposed to cigarette smoke on days 2-13 and 15-30 (10 cigarettes/time/30 min, twice/day) for the modeling of CB. The rats were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage for 30 consecutive days from day 2 of modeling, and the mental status, behavior, and body weights of the rats were observed and measured. The wet/dry mass ratio (W/D) of the left lung was measured 30 days after modeling. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe the pathological changes in the lung and bronchial tissues. The bronchial mucus secretion and goblet cell proliferation were observed by Alcian blue-periodic acid Schiff (AB-PAS) staining. The levels of mucin 5AC (MUC5AC), interleukin (IL)-13, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1), and transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) in the lung tissue was quantitatively analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. ResultCompared with the normal group, the model group showcased abnormal mental status and behaviors, bloody secretion in the nose and mouth, the mortality rate of 40%, decreased body weight, severe lung bronchial structure damage, a large number of inflammatory mediators and inflammatory cell infiltration in the tube wall, hyperemia, edema, and fibroplasia, massive proliferation of goblet cells, excessive secretion and accumulation of mucus, stenosis and deformation of the lumen, and aggravation of pulmonary edema (P<0.01). In addition, the model group had higher levels of MUC5AC, IL-13, IL-6, and TNF-α in the serum and higher expression of PLA2 in the lung tissue than the normal group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the medication groups showed normal mental status and behaviors, reduced mortality rate, stable weight gain, reduced lung and bronchial injuries, decreased goblet cell proliferation and mucus secretion, and alleviated pulmonary edema (P<0.01). Furthermore, Linggui Zhugantang lowered the levels of MUC5AC, IL-13, IL-6, and TNF-α in the serum and down-regulated the protein levels of PLA2, TRPV1, and TRPA1 in the lung tissue (P<0.01). ConclusionLinggui Zhugantang can reduce the pulmonary inflammation and airway mucus hypersecretion in the rat model of chronic bronchitis. It may exert the effects of reducing inflammation and resolving phlegm by regulating the PLA2-TRPV1/TRPA1 pathway.


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