Study on the Immunomodulatory effect of Qixian Decoction in an Asthmatic Mice Model Based on Serum Metabolomics

Manman Li; Qingge Chen; Zhenhua Ni; Xinyi Le; Tong Wu

doi:10.1055/s-0044-1789576

Pharmaceutical Fronts, Table of Contents

CC BY 4.0 · Pharmaceutical Fronts 2024; 06(03): e294-e304
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1789576

Original Article

Study on the Immunomodulatory effect of Qixian Decoction in an Asthmatic Mice Model Based on Serum Metabolomics

Manman Li‡^#

¹National Key Laboratory of Lead Druggability Research, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, People's Republic of China

,

Qingge Chen‡^#

²Department of Respiratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China

,

Zhenhua Ni

²Department of Respiratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China

,

Xinyi Le

¹National Key Laboratory of Lead Druggability Research, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, People's Republic of China

,

Tong Wu^#

¹National Key Laboratory of Lead Druggability Research, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, People's Republic of China

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of Qixian Decoction (QXT) in an asthmatic model. In this study, ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in female SPF BALB/c mice was established. Mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8): a control group, an OVA model group, a low-dose Qixian Granules (KLL) group, and a high-dose Qixian Granules (KLH) group. Mice in the KLL and KLH groups were given the Qixian Granules at a dose of 8 and 16 g/kg, respectively. After the treatment, the lung pathology was evaluated. The expression of inflammatory factors was determined. Serum metabolomics was used to investigate the overall regulation of QXT on the metabolism of asthmatic mice. Our data showed that QXT significantly increased the expression levels of Th1-related interferon-γ, Treg-related interleukin (IL)-10, and transforming growth factor-β1 while decreasing Th1-related tumor necrosis factor α levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and Th2-related IL-4 and IL-5 levels in serum when compared with the model group (all p < 0.05). Serum metabolomics revealed 28 potential biomarkers associated with nine pathways. Compared with the control group, 19 different metabolites in the KLL group and 18 different metabolites in the KLH were reversed. QXT's therapeutic effect against asthma might be related to glycerophospholipid metabolism and arachidonic acid metabolism. In conclusion, QXT could ameliorate inflammation of the OVA-induced asthmatic mice, mainly by regulating the expression of immune-related factors, probably through regulating the Th1/Th2 immune balance and promoting the proliferation of Treg.

Keywords

asthmatic mice - serum metabolomics - Th1/Th2 - Treg - Qixian Decoction

Full Text

References

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