Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To investigate the antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects of Maxing Shigan Decoction and its influence on hypothalamic metabolism.
METHODS Intraperitoneal injection of LPS was used to establish a rat fever model, and the rats were divided into control group, model group, acetaminophen group, and Maxing Shigan Decoction group. Rectal temperatures were recorded within 6 hours post-modeling to evaluate the antipyretic effect of Maxing Shigan Decoction. RT-qPCR was used to detect mRNA expression levels of pyrogenic factors associated with inflammatory responses and thermoregulation. The expression level of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) protein was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Calcium ion (Ca2+) content was detected using the o-cresolphthalein complexone (OCPC) colorimetric method. Through non-targeted hypothalamic metabolomics and lipidomics, enriched metabolic pathways revealed the mechanism of action of Maxing Shigan Decoction in reducing fever and inflammation.
RESULTS Maxing Shigan Decoction significantly reduced rectal temperature in rats (P0.001), downregulated the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors in the hypothalamus (P0.05), reduced the content of PGE₂ and the content of Ca2+ (P0.001) in cerebrospinal fluid, and simultaneously decreased the mRNA expression of PGC-1α in brown adipose tissue (P0.001). Metabolomics analysis revealed that the Maxing Shigan Decoction could regulate 23 potential differentially expressed metabolites, primarily involving the polyamine biosynthesis pathway. Lipidomics results showed that Maxing Shigan Decoction could affect the levels of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), fatty acids (FA), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), sphingomyelin (SM), and hexosylceramide (HexCer) in hypothalamus.
CONCLUSION Maxing Shigan Decoction exerts its antipyretic effect by regulating glycerophospholipid and sphingosine metabolism in the central nervous system, thereby influencing central polyamine biosynthesis, inhibiting the release of endogenous pyrogens, and suppressing excessive thermogenesis.