Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To investigate the therapeutic effect of tectorigenin on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced asthma, and to explore its mechanism by metabolomics.
METHODS BALB/C mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, tectorigenin low and high dose groups (10, 20 mg·kg-1) and positive drug dexamethasone group. RSV-induced asthma model was established by RSV combined with house dust mite (HDM). Lung histopathology was observed by HE staining and airway mucus secretion was observed by PAS staining. Serum levels of Interleukin-4 (IL-4), Interleukin-5 (IL-5), Interleukin-13 (IL-13), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and Cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) were measured by ELISA. Metabolomic changes of lung tissue in RSV-induced asthmatic mice were examined by GC-MS. The protein expression of ALOX5 in lung tissue was detected by Western blot.
RESULTS Compared with the model group, the pathological injury of lung tissue and mucus secretion of airway were reduced in low and high dose groups of tectorigenin (P<0.05,P<0.01). The levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-1β, TNF-α in serum were decreased in low and high dose groups of tectorigenin (P<0.05,P<0.01). The results of metabolomics showed that high-dose tectorigenin treatment could improve the metabolic disorders of leukotriene A4 (LTA4) , leukotriene B4 (LTB4), leukotriene D4 (LTD4), leukotriene E4 (LTE4), arachidonic acid (AA) and 5-hydroxytetradecenoic acid (5-HETE) in the lung tissue of the model group. The differential metabolites were mainly enriched in pathways such as arachidonic acid metabolism. Compared with the model group, the levels of 5-LOX and CysLTs in serum and the protein expression of ALOX5 in the lung tissue of high-dose tectorigenin group were decreased (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION Tectorigenin might improve RSV-induced asthma by regulating arachidonic acid metabolism. The mechanism was related to reducing the expression of 5-LOX and ALOX5, inhibiting the transformation of arachidonic acid to CysLTs and reducing airway inflammation.