Therapeutic Effects of Lifei Decoction in a Murine Model of COPD Induced by LPS and Cigarette Smoke

Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2024 Apr 18:19:957-967. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S449521. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Introduction: The Lifei Decoction (LD) is a commonly utilized Chinese medicine for the treatment of sepsis and bronchial inflammation. However, its therapeutic potential in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanism of LD in a mouse model of COPD induced by cigarette smoke (CS) combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Methods: Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining was employed to observe the pathological alterations in lung tissue, while ELISA was utilized for the detection of levels of inflammatory factors in both lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Additionally, Western blot analysis was conducted to assess the expression of p-NF-κB, GDF11, ZO-1, and Occludin-1 proteins. The changes in intestinal flora were evaluated using the viable bacteria count method.

Results: The administration of LD demonstrates significant efficacy in mitigating pulmonary tissue damage in a murine model, while concurrently inhibiting the activation of the inflammatory pathway NF-κB to attenuate the levels of pro-inflammatory factors. Moreover, LD exhibits the capacity to enhance the expression of intestinal functional proteins ZO-1 and Occludin-1, thereby rectifying dysbiosis within the gut microbiota.

Conclusion: The LD shows great promise as a potential treatment for COPD.

Keywords: COPD; inflammation; intestinal flora; lifei decoction.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents* / pharmacology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
  • Cigarette Smoking / adverse effects
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal* / pharmacology
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / drug effects
  • Inflammation Mediators* / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides*
  • Lung* / drug effects
  • Lung* / metabolism
  • Lung* / microbiology
  • Lung* / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • NF-kappa B* / metabolism
  • Occludin* / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* / drug therapy
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* / microbiology
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Smoke / adverse effects
  • Zonula Occludens-1 Protein* / metabolism

Substances

  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
  • NF-kappa B
  • Occludin
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Tjp1 protein, mouse
  • Smoke
  • Ocln protein, mouse

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism (NO.XZSYSKF2021047) and Jiangsu Province large instruments open to share independent research projects(NO.KY14092202).