Investigation of the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Houpo Mahuang Decoction on a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BackgroundWith a growing global population affected by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the traditional Chinese herbal formula Houpo Mahuang Decoction (HPMHD) has been used for centuries to address respiratory ailments. While studies have demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of HPMHD i...

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Main Authors: Shanlan Li, Ziqi Dai, Tong Zhang, Zhuoqian Guo, Feng Gao, Xuehao Cheng, Jin An, Yixuan Lin, Xiaomin Xiong, Nan Wang, Guanghui Jiang, Bing Xu, Haimin Lei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1448069/full
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author Shanlan Li
Ziqi Dai
Tong Zhang
Zhuoqian Guo
Feng Gao
Xuehao Cheng
Jin An
Yixuan Lin
Xiaomin Xiong
Nan Wang
Guanghui Jiang
Bing Xu
Haimin Lei
author_facet Shanlan Li
Ziqi Dai
Tong Zhang
Zhuoqian Guo
Feng Gao
Xuehao Cheng
Jin An
Yixuan Lin
Xiaomin Xiong
Nan Wang
Guanghui Jiang
Bing Xu
Haimin Lei
author_sort Shanlan Li
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundWith a growing global population affected by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the traditional Chinese herbal formula Houpo Mahuang Decoction (HPMHD) has been used for centuries to address respiratory ailments. While studies have demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of HPMHD in COPD, the effective active ingredients, potential targets, and molecular mechanisms underlying its effectiveness remained unclear.MethodsThe mechanisms of action of certain HPMHD components, targets, and pathways for the treatment of COPD were predicted using a network pharmacology method. We induced a COPD mouse model using porcine pancreatic elastase and evaluated the pathological changes and healing processes through HE and Masson staining. Immunofluorescence was used to assess the levels of IL-6 and TNF-ɑ. RNA-Seq analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the lungs of normal, control, and treated mice, revealing the biological pathways enriched by HPMHD in COPD treatment. Finally, the expression of DEGs was verified using Western blotting and RT-qPCR.ResultsHPMHD effectively alleviated pathological symptoms and improved COPD in mice by modulating the IL-17 signaling pathway. Treatment with HPMHD improved lung morphology and structure, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, and inhibited IL-6 and TNF-ɑ levels. Network pharmacology and transcriptomics further revealed the mechanism, indicating that the IL-17 signaling pathway might been instrumental in the inhibitory effect of HPMHD on mouse model of COPD. Subsequent experiments, including protein blotting and RT-qPCR analysis, confirmed the activation of the IL-17 signaling pathway by HPMHD in the COPD mouse model, further supporting the initial findings.ConclusionHPMHD was shown to alleviate COPD and reduce lung inflammation in mice, potentially through the activation of the IL-17 signaling pathway. This study provides a novel direction for the development of COPD drugs.
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spelling doaj-art-6bcb5f5d76e040cd86d2cede49bec5c32025-08-20T02:12:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122024-11-011510.3389/fphar.2024.14480691448069Investigation of the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Houpo Mahuang Decoction on a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseShanlan Li0Ziqi Dai1Tong Zhang2Zhuoqian Guo3Feng Gao4Xuehao Cheng5Jin An6Yixuan Lin7Xiaomin Xiong8Nan Wang9Guanghui Jiang10Bing Xu11Haimin Lei12School of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaAimin Pharmaceutical Group, Henan, ChinaAimin Pharmaceutical Group, Henan, ChinaAimin Pharmaceutical Group, Henan, ChinaSchool of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaBackgroundWith a growing global population affected by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the traditional Chinese herbal formula Houpo Mahuang Decoction (HPMHD) has been used for centuries to address respiratory ailments. While studies have demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of HPMHD in COPD, the effective active ingredients, potential targets, and molecular mechanisms underlying its effectiveness remained unclear.MethodsThe mechanisms of action of certain HPMHD components, targets, and pathways for the treatment of COPD were predicted using a network pharmacology method. We induced a COPD mouse model using porcine pancreatic elastase and evaluated the pathological changes and healing processes through HE and Masson staining. Immunofluorescence was used to assess the levels of IL-6 and TNF-ɑ. RNA-Seq analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the lungs of normal, control, and treated mice, revealing the biological pathways enriched by HPMHD in COPD treatment. Finally, the expression of DEGs was verified using Western blotting and RT-qPCR.ResultsHPMHD effectively alleviated pathological symptoms and improved COPD in mice by modulating the IL-17 signaling pathway. Treatment with HPMHD improved lung morphology and structure, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, and inhibited IL-6 and TNF-ɑ levels. Network pharmacology and transcriptomics further revealed the mechanism, indicating that the IL-17 signaling pathway might been instrumental in the inhibitory effect of HPMHD on mouse model of COPD. Subsequent experiments, including protein blotting and RT-qPCR analysis, confirmed the activation of the IL-17 signaling pathway by HPMHD in the COPD mouse model, further supporting the initial findings.ConclusionHPMHD was shown to alleviate COPD and reduce lung inflammation in mice, potentially through the activation of the IL-17 signaling pathway. This study provides a novel direction for the development of COPD drugs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1448069/fullhoupo mahuang decoctionchronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseIL-17 signaling pathwayinflammationtranscriptomicsnetwork pharmacology
spellingShingle Shanlan Li
Ziqi Dai
Tong Zhang
Zhuoqian Guo
Feng Gao
Xuehao Cheng
Jin An
Yixuan Lin
Xiaomin Xiong
Nan Wang
Guanghui Jiang
Bing Xu
Haimin Lei
Investigation of the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Houpo Mahuang Decoction on a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Frontiers in Pharmacology
houpo mahuang decoction
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
IL-17 signaling pathway
inflammation
transcriptomics
network pharmacology
title Investigation of the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Houpo Mahuang Decoction on a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
title_full Investigation of the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Houpo Mahuang Decoction on a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
title_fullStr Investigation of the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Houpo Mahuang Decoction on a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
title_full_unstemmed Investigation of the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Houpo Mahuang Decoction on a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
title_short Investigation of the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Houpo Mahuang Decoction on a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
title_sort investigation of the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of houpo mahuang decoction on a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
topic houpo mahuang decoction
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
IL-17 signaling pathway
inflammation
transcriptomics
network pharmacology
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1448069/full
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