Xuanbai Chengqi Decoction Ameliorates Pulmonary Inflammation via Reshaping Gut Microbiota and Rectifying Th17/Treg Imbalance in a Murine Model of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Purpose Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a prevalent obstructive airway disease, has become the third most common cause of death globally. Xuanbai Chengqi decoction (XBCQ) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription for the acute exacerbation of COPD. Here, we aimed to reveal the therapeutic effects of XBCQ administration and its molecular mechanisms mediated by Th17/Treg balance and gut microbiota. Methods We determined the counts of Th17 and Treg cells in the serum of 15 COPD and 10 healthy subjects. Then, cigarette smoke extract-induced COPD mice were gavaged with low, middle, and high doses of XBCQ, respectively. Weight loss, pulmonary function and inflammation, Th17/Treg ratio, and gut microbiota were measured to evaluate the efficacy of XBCQ on COPD. Results COPD patients had a higher Th17/Treg ratio in the serum than healthy controls, which was consistent with the results in the lung and colon of COPD mice. The middle dose of XBCQ (M-XBCQ) significantly decreased the weight loss and improved the pulmonary function (FEV0.2/FVC) in COPD mice. Moreover, M-XBCQ alleviated lung inflammation by rectifying the Th17/Treg imbalance, reducing the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, and MMP-9, and suppressing inflammatory cells infiltration. Meanwhile, M-XBCQ greatly improved the microbial homeostasis in COPD mice by accumulating probiotic Gordonibacter and Akkermansia but inhibiting the growth of pathogenic Streptococcus , which showed significant correlations with pulmonary injury. Conclusion Oral M-XBCQ could alleviate COPD exacerbations by reshaping the gut microbiota and improving the Th17/Treg balance, which aids in elucidating the mechanism through which XBCQ as a therapy for COPD.

The treatment of Qibai Pingfei Capsule on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be mediated by Th17 / Treg balance and gut-lung axis microbiota

“…Moreover, lung cancer patients with a relatively higher abundance of Coprococcus are prone to gastrointestinal reactions and disease progression after two cycles of chemotherapy [82]. Previous studies have confirmed that the community changes of intestinal and pulmonary microbiota in COPD are related to the decline of pulmonary function and immune imbalance [35, [83][84]. Consequently, our results further enrich the relationship between intestinal and pulmonary microbiota and pulmonary function and immune function in COPD model rats.…”

The Bufei Jianpi Formula Improves Mucosal Immune Function by Remodeling Gut Microbiota Through the SCFAs/GPR43/NLRP3 Pathway in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Rats

“…Previous studies have shown that F:B is a predictor of fecal SCFA levels, as these two clades, along with Laospirillaceae, include important symbiotic, SFCA-producing bacteria. 31 , 32 In our study, a decrease in the F:B ratio was observed among COPD rats, indicating that alterations in the gut microbiome, especially reduction of SCFA-producing bacteria, could lead to the initiation and development of COPD. SCFA has been established as a mediator of the gut-lung axis.…”

The treatment of Qibai Pingfei Capsule on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be mediated by Th17/Treg balance and gut-lung axis microbiota

“…Similarly, lung cancer patients with a relatively higher abundance of Coprococcus are prone to gastrointestinal reactions and disease progression after two cycles of chemotherapy [ 77 ]. Previous studies have confirmed that the community changes of intestinal and pulmonary microbiota in COPD are related to the decline of pulmonary function and immune imbalance in COPD patients and mice [ 39 , 78 , 79 ]. Consequently, our results further enrich the relationship between intestinal and pulmonary microbiota and pulmonary function and immune function in COPD model rats.…”