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Chen Z, Zhou Y, Tan Y, He SD, Ji X, Xiao B, Chen H. Network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation of Xiao-Qing-Long-Tang's therapeutic effects against neutrophilic asthma. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 243:116063. [PMID: 38479305 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2024.116063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Xiao-Qing-Long-Tang (XQLT), a classical Chinese herbal medicine formula, has been extensively used for allergic asthma treatment. However, there is limited research on its anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms specifically in neutrophilic asthma (NA). PURPOSE This study aims to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of XQLT against NA using a combination of network pharmacology and experimental validation. STUDY DESIGN By utilizing traditional Chinese medicine and disease databases, we constructed an XQLT-asthma network to identify potential targets of XQLT for NA. In the experimental phase, we utilized an ovalbumin (OVA)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced model for neutrophilic asthma and examined the therapeutic effects of XQLT. RESULTS Our research identified 174 bioactive components within XQLT and obtained 140 target genes of XQLT against asthma. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these target genes were primarily associated with inflammation and cytokines. In the experimental validation, mice induced with OVA-LPS showcased eosinophilic and neutrophilic cell infiltration in peri-bronchial areas, elevated levels of IL-4 and IL-17 in both serum and lung, increased percentages of Th2 and Th17 cells in the spleen, as well as elevated levels of CD11b+ and CD103+ dendritic cells (DCs) within the lung. Treatment with XQLT effectively reduced IL-4 and IL-17 levels, decreased the percentages of Th2, Th17, CD11b+, and CD103+ DCs, and improved inflammatory cell infiltrations in lung tissues. These findings serve as a foundation for the potential clinical application of XQLT in neutrophilic asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifeng Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yaoliang Zhou
- The Emergency Department, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuanfei Tan
- The Physical Examination Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Sheng-Dong He
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoying Ji
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
| | - Bing Xiao
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Emergency and Difficult Diseases Institute of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China; Department of Emergency Medicine, The Guilin Hospital of The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Guilin, Guangxi, China.
| | - Hongda Chen
- Department of Chinese Medicine, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
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Plavsic A, Bonaci-Nikolic B, Milenkovic B, Miskovic R, Kusic N, Dimitrijevic M, Arandjelovic S, Milosevic K, Buha I, Tomic Spiric V. Asthma Inflammatory Phenotypes: How Can We Distinguish Them? J Clin Med 2024; 13:526. [PMID: 38256660 PMCID: PMC10816410 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES induced sputum is used to assess different inflammatory phenotypes in asthma, but is not used routinely. We aimed to determine the proportion of inflammatory asthma phenotypes based on induced sputum, to find biomarkers that can discriminate between phenotypes, and to evaluate biomarkers in patients with and without biological therapy in different inflammatory asthma phenotypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS this cross-sectional study investigated clinical characteristics, asthma control tests, skin prick test, impulse oscillometry (IOS), spirometry, induced sputum, biomarkers (IgE, eosinophils, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), serum periostin, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, IL-33) in 80 asthmatics. A total of 17/80 patients were treated with biologics (10 with omalizumab, 7 with benralizumab). RESULTS a total of 31% of patients had eosinophilic asthma (EA), 30% had mixed granulocytic asthma (MGA), 24% had paucigranulocytic asthma (PGA), and 15% had neutrophilic asthma (NA). The difference was found in blood eosinophils (p = 0.002), the highest observed in EA. The cut-off ≥ 240/μL eosinophils, with 64% sensitivity and 72.7% specificity, identified EA (AUC = 0.743, p = 0.001). A higher IL-8 level was associated with NA (p = 0.025). In 63 non-biologic asthma group, eosinophils were higher in EA than in NA, MGA, and PGA (p = 0.012, p = 0.028, and p = 0.049, respectively). A higher IL-17A was associated with EA without biologics (p = 0.004). A significantly higher IL-5 was found in EA treated with biologics, in comparison with EA without biologics (p = 0.043). The number of leucocytes and neutrophils was higher in MGA without biologics (p = 0.049, p = 0.019), while IL-5, IL-6, and IL-8 levels were higher in MGA treated with biologics (p = 0.012, p = 0.032, p = 0.038, respectively). CONCLUSIONS EA and MGA were the most prevalent asthma phenotypes. Blood eosinophils can identify EA, both in patients with and without biologics. Apart from the clinical profile, a broad spectrum of biomarkers for assessing inflammatory phenotypes is necessary for an adequate therapy approach to patients with asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Plavsic
- Clinic for Allergy and Immunology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.B.N.); (R.M.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.M.)
| | - Branka Bonaci-Nikolic
- Clinic for Allergy and Immunology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.B.N.); (R.M.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.M.)
| | - Branislava Milenkovic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.M.)
- Clinic for Pulmonology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Rada Miskovic
- Clinic for Allergy and Immunology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.B.N.); (R.M.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.M.)
| | - Natasa Kusic
- Clinic for Allergy and Immunology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.B.N.); (R.M.)
| | - Milan Dimitrijevic
- Clinic for Allergy and Immunology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.B.N.); (R.M.)
| | - Snezana Arandjelovic
- Clinic for Allergy and Immunology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.B.N.); (R.M.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.M.)
| | - Katarina Milosevic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.M.)
- Department of Pulmonology and Allergology, University Children’s Hospital, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivana Buha
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.M.)
- Clinic for Pulmonology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vesna Tomic Spiric
- Clinic for Allergy and Immunology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.B.N.); (R.M.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.M.)
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Milara J, Morell A, Roger I, Montero P, Cortijo J. Mechanisms underlying corticosteroid resistance in patients with asthma: a review of current knowledge. Expert Rev Respir Med 2023; 17:701-715. [PMID: 37658478 DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2023.2255124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Corticosteroids are the most cost-effective anti-inflammatory drugs available for the treatment of asthma. Despite their effectiveness, several asthmatic patients have corticosteroid resistance or insensitivity and exhibit a poor response. Corticosteroid insensitivity implies a poor prognosis due to challenges in finding alternative therapeutic options for asthma. AREAS COVERED In this review, we describe asthma phenotypes and endotypes, as well as their differential responsiveness to corticosteroids. In addition, we describe the mechanism of action of corticosteroids underlying their regulation of the expression of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and their anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, we summarize the mechanistic evidence underlying corticosteroid-insensitive asthma, which is mainly related to changes in GR gene expression, structure, and post-transcriptional modifications. Finally, various pharmacological strategies designed to reverse corticosteroid insensitivity are discussed. EXPERT OPINION Corticosteroid insensitivity is influenced by the asthma phenotype, endotype, and severity, and serves as an indication for biological therapy. The molecular mechanisms underlying corticosteroid-insensitive asthma have been used to develop targeted therapeutic strategies. However, the lack of clinical trials prevents the clinical application of these treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Milara
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Pharmacy department, University General Hospital of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- CIBERES, Health Institute Carlos III, Valencia, Spain
| | - Anselm Morell
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Inés Roger
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- CIBERES, Health Institute Carlos III, Valencia, Spain
| | - Paula Montero
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Pharmacy department, University General Hospital of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Julio Cortijo
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- CIBERES, Health Institute Carlos III, Valencia, Spain
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