背景:Pi-pa-run-fei-tang(PPRFT),一种历史悠久的中药配方,证明了对慢性咳嗽的有益作用。然而,潜在的疗效机制尚不清楚。在目前的研究中,探讨辣椒素联合氨水刺激小鼠慢性咳嗽的影响及分子机制。
目的:为了研究代谢调节效应,以及PPRFT治疗慢性咳嗽的潜在机制。
方法:通过辣椒素与氨联合刺激小鼠建立慢性咳嗽小鼠模型。记录2分钟内的咳嗽次数和咳嗽潜伏期。收集肺组织和血清样本进行组织病理学检查,代谢组学,RT-qPCR,免疫组织化学,和WB分析。分离淋巴细胞并进行流式细胞术测定以评估CD4+细胞中Th17和Treg细胞之间的分化。
结果:结果表明PPRFT明显减少咳嗽次数,咳嗽潜伏期延长,减少炎症细胞浸润和肺组织损伤,降低血清IL-6、IL-1β水平,TNF-α,和IL-17,同时增加IL-10水平。值得注意的是,PPRFT克制Th17细胞分歧,增进Treg细胞分歧。此外,血清代谢组学分析显示,46种代谢物在组间有显著差异,涉及35条途径。此外,IL-6、NF-κB、IL-17,RORγT,PPRFT预处理后,肺组织中JAK2,STAT3,PI3K和AKT的表达显着降低,IL-10和FOXP3的mRNA水平升高。此外,PPRFT治疗降低IL-6,NF-κB的蛋白水平,IL-17,RORγT,p-JAK2,p-STAT3,p-PI3K,和p-AKT并增加IL-10和FOXP3的蛋白质水平,但对JAK2,STAT3,PI3K的水平没有显着影响,和AKT在肺部。
结论:最后,我们的结果表明,PPRFT对慢性咳嗽的作用可能是通过IL-6/JAK2/STAT3和PI3K/AKT/NF-κB通路介导的,调节Th17和Treg细胞之间的分化。PPRFT在辣椒素和氨刺激的慢性咳嗽小鼠中的这种有益作用表明其在治疗慢性咳嗽中的潜在应用。
BACKGROUND: Pi-pa-run-fei-tang (PPRFT), a traditional Chinese medicine formula with long-standing history, demonstrated beneficial effect on chronic cough. However, the mechanism underlying efficacy unclear. In current research, we explored the impact and molecular mechanism of chronic cough mouse stimulating with capsaicin combined with ammonia.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the metabolic modulating effects, and potential mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of PPRFT in chronic cough.
METHODS: Chronic cough mouse models were created by stimulating mice by capsaicin combined with ammonia. Number of coughs and cough latency within 2 min were recorded. With lung tissue and serum samples collected for histopathology, metabolomics, RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and WB analysis. Lymphocytes were isolated and flow cytometric assays were conducted to evaluate the differentiation between Th17 and Treg cell among CD4+ cells.
RESULTS: Results indicated that PPRFT obviously reduced the number of coughs, prolonged cough latency, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and lung tissues damage, and decreased the serum level of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-17 while increasing IL-10 levels. Notably, PPRFT suppressed Th17 cell divergence and promoted Treg cell divergence. Furthermore, serum metabolomic assays showed that 46 metabolites differed significantly between group, with 35 pathways involved. Moreover, mRNA levels of IL-6, NF-κB, IL-17, RORγT, JAK2, STAT3, PI3K and AKT in lung tissues remarkably reduced and mRNA levels of IL-10 and FOXP3 were elevated after PPRFT pretreatment. Additionally, PPRFT treatments decreased the protein levels of IL-6, NF-κB, IL-17, RORγT, p-JAK2, p-STAT3, p-PI3K, and p-AKT and increased the protein levels of IL-10 and FOXP3, but no significantly effects to the levels on JAK2, STAT3, PI3K, and AKT in the lungs.
CONCLUSIONS: Conclusively, our result suggested the effect with PPRFT on chronic cough may be mediated through IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway, which regulate the differentiation between Th17 and Treg cell. This beneficial effect of PPRFT in capsaicin and ammonia-stimulated chronic cough mice indicates its potential application in treating chronic cough.