[Effect of Huai Qi Huang on asthma in rats and the mechanism research]

Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi. 2020 Feb;22(2):171-176. doi: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2020.02.016.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

Objective: To study the role and mechanism of action of Huai Qi Huang (HQH) in the rat model of asthma.

Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group, an asthma model group, a budesonide group, and an HQH group, with 10 rats in each group. A rat model of asthma was established by ovalbumin sensitization and challenge. The budesonide group was given budesonide aerosol 2 mg before each challenge. The HQH group was given HQH 4 g/kg dissolved in water by gavage before each challenge. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes of lung tissues. The percentage of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was measured. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the levels of interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interferon gamma (INF-γ), and immunoglobulin E (IgE) in BALF. Flow cytometry was used to determine T-helper type 1 (Th1)/T-helper type 2 (Th2) ratio in peripheral blood and the spleen. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of T-bet and GATA-3 in lung tissue.

Results: Compared with the control group, the asthma model group showed significant increases in the degree of airway inflammation, the percentage of eosinophils in BALF, and the levels of IL-3, IL-4, IL-5 and IgE in BALF (P<0.05), however, the asthma model group showed significant reductions in the levels of IL-10 and INF-γ in BALF (P<0.05). The asthma model group had significantly lower percentage of Th1 cells but significantly higher percentage of Th2 cells in peripheral blood and the spleen compared with the control group (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of T-bet in lung tissue was significantly lower, but the mRNA and protein expression of GATA-3 in lung tissue was significantly higher in the asthma group than those in the control group (P<0.05). Both HQH and budesonide significantly improved airway inflammation and the above markers in asthmatic rats (P<0.05), with comparable effects between them. However, there were still significant differences in these indices between the control group and the HQH or budesonide group (P<0.05).

Conclusions: HQH can reduce the airway inflammation of asthmatic rats and alleviate the symptoms of asthma, possibly by regulating the levels of related cytokines and Th1/Th2 ratio through the T-bet/GATA-3 pathway.

目的: 探索槐杞黄在哮喘大鼠模型中的作用及相关机制。

方法: 将40只Sprague-Dawley大鼠随机分为对照组、哮喘模型组、布地奈德组和槐杞黄组(n=10)。通过卵白蛋白致敏并激发建立哮喘大鼠模型,布地奈德组在每次激发前以布地奈德2 mg雾化,槐杞黄组在每次激发前以槐杞黄4 g/kg溶于水中灌胃。苏木精-伊红染色观察各组大鼠肺组织病理变化;计数肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中嗜酸性粒细胞比例;ELISA法检测各组BALF中细胞因子IL-3、IL-4、IL-5、IL-10、INF-γ及IgE浓度;流式细胞术检测外周血及脾脏中Th1/Th2细胞比例;RT-PCR法检测肺组织中T-bet、GATA-3 mRNA表达;应用Western bolt检测肺组织中T-bet、GATA-3蛋白表达。

结果: 与对照组相比,哮喘组大鼠气道炎症程度明显增加;BALF中嗜酸性粒细胞比例显著升高;IL-3、IL-4、IL-5、IgE浓度显著升高,而IL-10、INF-γ浓度明显下降;外周血及脾脏Th1细胞比例明显降低,Th2细胞比例明显升高;肺组织T-bet mRNA及其蛋白表达水平明显降低,GATA-3 mRNA及其蛋白表达水平明显升高(P < 0.05)。槐杞黄及布地奈德均能明显改善哮喘大鼠气道炎症及上述指标水平(P < 0.05),且效果相当;但与对照组比较,差异仍有统计学意义(P < 0.05)。

结论: 槐杞黄能改善哮喘大鼠气道炎症,缓解哮喘症状,其机制可能与调节相关细胞因子水平及Th1/Th2比例有关,这一作用可能经T-bet和GATA-3通路进行调控。

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma*
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Lung
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Th2 Cells

Substances

  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • huai qi huang

Grants and funding

湖北省自然科学基金(2018CFB745)