Inhalation of Essential Oil from Mentha piperita Ameliorates PM10-Exposed Asthma by Targeting IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 Pathway Based on a Network Pharmacological Analysis

Abstract

Fine particulate matter (PM) exposure exhibits a crucial risk factor to exacerbate airway epithelial remodeling, fibrosis, and pulmonary destruction in asthma. Based on the use of essential oils from aromatic plants on pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties, we investigated the inhibitory effects of essential oil derived from the Mentha species (MEO) against asthma exposed to PM10. The MEO (0.1 v/v %) was aerosolized by a nebulizer to ovalbumin and PM10-induced asthmatic mice. Histological changes were confirmed in the lung tissues. To define the mode of action of the MEO on asthma, a protein–protein interaction network was constructed using menthol and menthone as the major components of the MEO. Cytokine expression and the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway were analyzed in lung epithelial A549 cells co-treated with MEO and PM10. Inhalation of MEO by nebulization inhibited respiratory epithelium hyperplasia, collagen deposition, and goblet cell activation in asthmatic mice. Through a network pharmacological analysis, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction and JAK/STAT was expected to be underlying mechanisms of MEO on asthma. Treatment with MEO significantly reduced the IL-6 levels with a decrease in pro-inflammatory and T helper 2-specific cytokines. PM10-induced phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 was significantly decreased by MEO. Collectively, MEO may have an inhibitory effect on asthma under the condition of PM10 exposure through the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Glycosite-deleted mRNA of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein as a broad-spectrum vaccine

“…It was shown that the splenocytes from S-(deg-S2) and S-(S2-1194) immunized mice secreted higher levels of T-helper-1 (TH1) cytokines (IFNγ, IL-2, and IL-12), whereas the splenocytes from WT and S-(deg-RBD) immunized mice secreted higher levels of T-helper-2 (TH2) cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, and IL-13) ( Fig. 4 ) ( 16 – 20 ). Overall, all RNA vaccines with deletion of glycosites elicited antibody and CD4 + and CD8 + T cell responses and related cytokines, with a stronger IFNγ-producing CD8 + T cell response in mice immunized with S-(deg-S2) and S-(S2-1194).…”

The Severity of Acute Kidney and Lung Injuries Induced by Cecal Ligation and Puncture Is Attenuated by Menthol: Role of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen and Apoptotic Markers

“…Recent studies showed that menthol-containing herbal extracts protect the kidneys in chemotherapy- ( 48 ) and gentamicin-induced ( 49 ) nephrotoxicity. Others have shown that menthol inhibited pulmonary inflammation and epithelial remodeling when inhaled by asthmatic animals ( 50 ).…”

Air Pollution and the Airways: Lessons from a Century of Human Urbanization

“…Murine models for allergic asthma models combined with exposure to particulate matter showed that PM 2.5 and PM 10 exacerbated the allergic airway response by further inducing a disbalance between the Th1 and the Th2 response with increased inflammatory cell infiltration, airway hyperreactivity, allergen-induced IgE, an increase in IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 and decrease in IFN-γ and T-bet [121][122][123][124].…”