Socheongryongtang Modulates Asthma-Related Changes via Modulation of TNF-α and T-bet as well as IFN-γ in an Asthma Murine Model

Abstract

In 2017 the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 235 million people suffered from asthma, and that 383,000 deaths were due to asthma in 2015. Asthma cannot be completely eradicated and the medications for asthma are associated with many adverse effects. Socheongryongtang is one of the prescriptions which has traditionally been used for the treatment of pulmonary disease, but the anti-asthmatic mechanism is unclear. To investigate the anti-asthmatic mechanism of socheongryongtang, BALB/c mice were divided into five groups: control, asthma-induced control, dexamethasone treatment, and 150 mg/kg or 1500 mg/kg socheongryongtang treatment and several biomarkers were analyzed, such as white blood cell (WBC) and differential counts in broncheoalveolar fluid (BALF), immunoglobulin E (IgE) in serum, and morphological changes/helper T cell-related cytokines/transcription factor in the lung. The therapeutic ingredients were also analyzed. Socheongryongtang inhibited the neutrophils differentiation in BALF, controlled interleukin (IL)-12p40 releasing, down-regulated not only GATA-3 and helper 2 T (Th2) cell transcription factors but also IL-4, and also decreased the level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the lung. In addition, through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, we confirmed that the therapeutic ingredients in socheongryongtang were paeoniflorin, liquiritin, and glycyrrhizin. The oral intake of 7.3 g of socheongryongtang is beneficial for suppressing the possibility of the occurrence of asthma via modulation of TNF-α and T-bet as well as IFN-γ.

The Hydroalcoholic Extract of Nasturtium officinale Reduces Lung Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in an Ovalbumin-Induced Rat Model of Asthma

“…The activated Th2 cells release high level of cytokines, including IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, leading to trigger AHR, induce mast cells, infiltrate eosinophils into the lungs, and subsequently increase mucus secretion [ 48 ]. Several studies reported that the expression of TNF- α , TGF-b, IL-1B, and α -SMA genes is significantly increased in OVA-induced asthma in animals, which is consistent with our findings [ 13 , 58 , 59 ].…”

Icariin attenuates asthmatic airway inflammation via modulating alveolar macrophage activation based on network pharmacology and in vivo experiments

“…[99][100][101] Simultaneously, DEX mitigated inflammation by reducing serum and lung levels of TNF. 102,103 Thus, the TNF inhibitor provides promise concerning improved asthma symptoms. 96 Our data demonstrate that ICA significantly diminishes the invasion of inflammatory cells in the airway lumen and reduces the transcript level of Syk, Jak2, Jun and…”

Codonopsis laceolata Water Extract Ameliorates Asthma Severity by Inducing Th2 Cells’ and Pulmonary Epithelial Cells’ Apoptosis via NF-κB/COX-2 Pathway

“…Anti-IgE agents, such as omalizumab, are immunomodulatory and are called the 'magic bullet' for allergic asthma treatment as they can suppress the exacerbation of asthma [39]. In our lab, we have been concentrating on finding Th2 cell-suppressing agents from natural products [13,[40][41][42].…”

“…Asthma might be caused by the imbalance of Th1 and Th2 factors [14], and specifically in asthma, Th2-related factors, such as IL-4 and IL-13, increase significantly [13,15]. IL-4 induces GATA-3's transcriptional activity via a positive feedback mechanism and causes enhanced IgE secretion from B cells, eosinophilia, mucous hypersecretion, and airway remodeling [38].…”

“…In our surrounding environment, there are many asthma-inducible allergens, and the various carriers can introduce allergens to us, such as Der p1 and Der p2 from house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farina), Fel d1 from cat (Felis domesticus), Can f1 from dog (Canis familiaris), Bla g1, Gla g2 and Per a1 from cockroach Processes 2022, 10, 1249 2 of 13 (Blatella germanica, Periplaneta americana), Mus m1 from mouse (Mus musculus), Rat n1 from rat (Rattus norvegicus), Bet v1 from birch tree (Betula verrucose), Phl p1 and Phl p5 from timothy (Pheum pretense), and pollen/mold [8]. These allergens induce immune imbalances, such as eosinophilia (over-differentiation of eosinophils), which is caused by IL-5 [9]; neutrophilia in some asthma patients [10]; type 1 hyperresponsiveness related to the IgE surge, which is caused by the activation of IL-4 and IL-13 [11]; breaking the cytokine balance, such as Th1 cell-related cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-12) [12], Th2 cell-related factors (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), and Th17-related ones (IL-6 and TNF-α) [13]; and finally, the imbalance of Th1 and Th2 cells [14]. The imbalance of Th1 cells and Th2 ones means that in healthy persons the level of Th1 cells is higher than in asthma patients, but in the opposite situation, asthma occurrence Th1 cells might decrease, while the level of Th2 ones might increase.…”