基于IL-25/NF-κB信号通路探讨益气温阳护卫汤对支气管哮喘大鼠气道炎症的改善作用

Efficacy of Yiqi Wenyang Huwei Decoction on airway inflammation in bronchial asthma in rats based on IL-25/NF-κB signaling pathway

目的 基于IL-25/NF-κB信号通路探讨益气温阳护卫汤对支气管哮喘大鼠气道炎症的作用机制。方法 将60只大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组、地塞米松组(0.2 mg/mL)和益气温阳护卫汤低、中、高剂量组(1、2、4 g/mL),每组10只,采用卵清蛋白(OVA)和氢氧化铝配制的混悬液进行腹腔注射,建立哮喘模型,造模后连续灌胃给药2周。每天观察各组大鼠饮食、精神状态、毛发、呼吸等情况,全自动血液分析仪对大鼠肺泡灌洗液(BALF)进行炎症细胞分类计数,HE染色观察肺组织病理变化,免疫组化(IHC)法检测肺组织IL-25蛋白表达,ELISA法检测BALF中IL-4、IL-5、IL-13水平,RT-qPCR检测肺组织IL-25、TRAF6 mRNA表达,Western blot法检测肺组织IL-25、TRAF6、IκBα、p-IκBα、NF-κB p65及p-NF-κB p65蛋白表达。结果 与对照组比较,模型组大鼠肺组织严重受损,大量炎性细胞浸润;BALF中各类炎症细胞数量、IL-4、IL-5、IL-13水平升高(P<0.01),肺组织IL-25、TRAF6 mRNA表达,IL-25、TRAF6、p-IκBα/IκBα、p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65蛋白表达升高(P<0.01);与模型组比较,益气温阳护卫汤各剂量均可改善肺组织炎性细胞浸润情况,降低BALF中各类炎性细胞数量、IL-4、IL-5、IL-13水平(P<0.05,P<0.01),降低肺组织IL-25、TRAF6 mRNA表达,IL-25、TRAF6、p-IκBα/IκBα、p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65蛋白表达(P<0.01)。结论 益气温阳护卫汤可以抑制支气管哮喘大鼠气道炎症,其作用可能与抑制IL-25/NF-κB信号通路活化,减少炎症因子表达有关。

AIM To explore the mechanism of Yiqi Wenyang Huwei Decoction on airway inflammation improvement of rats with bronchial asthma based on IL-25/NF-κB signaling pathway.METHODS 60 rats were randomly divided into the control group,the model group,the dexamethasone group(0.2 mg/mL),the low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose Yiqi Wenyang Huwei Decoction groups(1,2,4 g/mL),with 10 rats in each group.Intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin(OVA)and aluminum hydroxide suspension was applied to establish the rat asthma model,followed by 2-week corresponding dosing of the drugs.The rats of each group had their daily diet,mental status,hair growth and respiration observed;their differential count of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)detected by automatic hematology analyzer;their pathological changes of lung tissue observed by HE staining;their pulmonary IL-25 protein expression detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC);their levels of IL-4,IL-5 and IL-13 in BALF measured by ELISA;their pulmonary expression of IL-25 and TRAF 6 mRNA detected by RT-qPCR;and their pulmonary protein expressions of IL-25,TRAF6,IκBα,p-IκBα,NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65 detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the control group,the model group displayed severe damage of the lung tissue and infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells;increased number of inflammatory cells and levels of IL-4,IL-5 and IL-13 in BALF(P<0.01);increased mRNA expressions of IL-25 and TRAF 6,and pulmonary protein expressions of IL-25,TRAF6,p-IκBα/IκBαand p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,all of the Yiqi Wenyang Huwei Decoction groups shared improved pulmonary infiltration of inflammatory cells;decreased number of inflammatory cells and levels of IL-4,IL-5 and IL-13 in BALF(P<0.05,P<0.01);and decreased mRNA expressions of IL-25 and TRAF 6,and pulmonary protein expressions of IL-25,TRAF6,p-IκBα/IκBαand p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65(P<0.01).CONCLUSION Yiqi Wenyang Huwei Decoction can inhibit the airway inflammation in the rat model of bronchial asthma,which may be related to the inhibited activation of IL-25/NF-κB signaling pathway and the reduced expression of inflammatory factors.