Guominkang formula alleviate inflammation in eosinophilic asthma by regulating immune balance of Th1/2 and Treg/Th17 cells

Aromatic compounds and organic acids identified from Ganoderma formosanum exhibit synergistic anti-melanogenic effects

This study reveals the anti-tyrosinase activity of Ganoderma formosanum extracts, pinpointing compounds including gluconic acid, mesalamine, L-pyroglutamic acid, esculetin, 5-hydroxyindole, and salicylic acid, as effective melanin production inhibitors in melanoma cells and zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, multiple molecular docking simulations provided insights into interactions between the identified compounds and tyrosinase, increasing binding affinity up to -16.36 kcal/mol. The enhanced binding of identified compounds to tyrosinase facilitated synergistic inhibitory effects on melanin production. This study highlights the potential of GFE-EA as a source of natural tyrosinase inhibitors and contributes to understanding the role of active compounds extracted from G. formosanum.

Traditional Chinese medicine to improve immune imbalance of asthma: focus on the adjustment of gut microbiota

Asthma, being the prevailing respiratory ailment globally, remains enigmatic in terms of its pathogenesis. In recent times, the advancement of traditional Chinese medicine pertaining to the intestinal microbiota has yielded a plethora of investigations, which have substantiated the potential of traditional Chinese medicine in disease prevention and treatment through modulation of the intestinal microbiota. Both animal models and clinical trials have unequivocally demonstrated the indispensable role of the intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of asthma. This article presents a summary of the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine in the context of regulating gut microbiota and its metabolites, thereby achieving immune regulation and inhibiting airway inflammation associated with asthma. It elucidates the mechanism by which traditional Chinese medicine modulates the gut microbiota to enhance asthma management, offering a scientific foundation for the utilization of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of asthma.

Anti-CD20 treatment attenuates Th2 cell responses: implications for the role of lung follicular mature B cells in the asthmatic mice

BACKGROUND

B cells were believed to act as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to promote T helper type 2 (Th2) cell responses. However, the role of lung B cells and its subpopulations in Th2 cell responses in asthma remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

We leveraged an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment that has been shown to selectively deplete B cells in mice and investigated whether this treatment modulates Th2 cell responses and this modulation is related to lung follicular mature (FM) B cells in a murine model of asthma.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We used a house dust mite (HDM)-induced asthma mouse model and found that anti-CD20 mAb treatment attenuates Th2 cell responses. Meanwhile, anti-CD20 mAb treatment did dramatically reduce the number of B cells, especially FM B cells in the lungs, but did not impact the frequency of other immune cell types, including lung T cells, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and regulatory T cells in wild-type mice. Moreover, we found that the suppressive effect of anti-CD20 mAb treatment on Th2 cell responses could be reversed upon adoptive transfer of lung FM B cells, but not lung CD19+ B cells without FM B cells in asthmatic mice.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings reveal that anti-CD20 mAb treatment alleviates Th2 cell responses, possibly by depleting lung FM B cells in a Th2-driven asthma model. This implies a potential therapeutic approach for asthma treatment through the targeting of lung FM B cells.

Molecular characterization of allergic constitution based on network pharmacology and multi-omics analysis methods

The objective of this study was to identify critical pathways associated with allergic constitution. Shared genes among allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma (AA), and atopic dermatitis (AD) were extracted from the GWAS catalog. RNA-seq data of AR, AA, and AD from gene expression omnibus (GEO) database were preprocessed and subjected to differential gene expression analysis. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were merged using the Robust Rank Aggregation (RRA) algorithm. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify modules associated with allergies. Components of Guominkang (GMK) were obtained from 6 databases and activate components were identified by SwissADME website. Utilizing the SwissTarget Prediction, PharmMapper, SymMap, and HERB, the targets of GMK were predicted and subsequently validated using gene chip data from our team previous study. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) related to the allergic constitution were also extracted based on a previous study. Pathway enrichment analysis was performed using KOBAS-i on the GWAS, RRA, WGCNA modules, DEPs, and GMK targets. P values from multi-omics datasets were combined by meta-analysis, and Bonferroni correction was applied. The significant pathways were further validated using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) with intervention data of GMK. The GWAS results yielded 172 genes. Four datasets AR1, AA1, AD1, and AD2 were acquired from GSE75011, GSE125916, and GSE184237. The RRA algorithm identified 19 upregulated and 20 downregulated genes. WGCNA identified 5 significant modules, with the blue and turquoise modules displaying a moderate correlation with allergies. By performing network pharmacology analysis, we identified 127 active ingredients of GMK and predicted 618 targets. Validation using gene chip data confirmed 107 GMK targets. Single-omics pathway analysis was conducted using KOBAS-i, and 39 significant pathways were identified across multiple omics datasets. GSEA analysis using GMK intervention data identified 11 of 39 significant pathways as the final key pathways associated with the allergic constitution. Through multi-omics integrated pathway analysis, we identified 11 critical pathways of allergic constitution, including TH1 and TH2 cell differentiation, TLR cascade, and TH17 cell differentiation. Identifying these pathways suggests that the observed alterations at the pathway level may play significant roles in the molecular characteristics of the allergic constitution.

Glutaminolysis of CD4+ T Cells: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Viral Diseases

CD4+ T cells play a critical role in the pathogenesis of viral diseases, which are activated by the internal metabolic pathways encountering with viral antigens. Glutaminolysis converts glutamine into tricarboxylic acid (TCA) circulating metabolites by α-ketoglutaric acid, which is essential for the proliferation and differentiation of CD4+ T cells and plays a central role in providing the energy and structural components needed for viral replication after the virus hijacks the host cell. Changes in glutaminolysis in CD4+ T cells are accompanied by changes in the viral status of the host cell due to competition for glutamine between immune cells and host cells. More recently, attempts have been made to treat tumours, autoimmune diseases, and viral diseases by altering the breakdown of glutamine in T cells. In this review, we will discuss the current knowledge of glutaminolysis in the CD4+ T cell subsets from viral diseases, not only increasing our understanding of immunometabolism but also providing a new perspective for therapeutic target in viral diseases.

Lung injuries induced by ozone exposure in female mice: Potential roles of the gut and lung microbes

Ozone (O3) is one of the most harmful pollutants affecting health. However, the potential effects of O3 exposure on microbes in the gut-lung axis related to lung injuries remain elusive. In this study, female mice were exposed to 0-, 0.5- and 1-ppm O3 for 28 days, followed by routine blood tests, lung function tests and histopathological examination of the colon, nasal cavity and lung. Mouse faeces and lungs were collected for 16s rRNA sequencing to assess the overall microbiological profile and screen for key differential enriched microbes (DEMs). The key DEMs in faecal samples were Butyricimonas, Rikenellaceae RC9 and Escherichia-Shigella, whereas those in lung samples were DNF00809, Fluviicola, Bryobacter, Family XII AD3011 group, Sharpea, MND1 and unclassified Phycisphaeraceae. After a search in microbe-disease databases, these key DEMs were found to be associated with lung diseases such as lung neoplasms, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory distress syndrome and bronchiectasis. Subsequently, we used transcriptomic data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) with exposure conditions similar to those in this study to cross-reference with Comparative Toxicogenomic Database (CTD). Il-6 and Ccl2 were identified as the key causative genes and were validated. The findings of this study suggest that exposure to O3 leads to significant changes in the microbial composition of the gut and lungs. These changes are associated with increased levels of inflammatory factors in the lungs and impaired lung function, resulting in an increased risk of lung disease. Altogether, this study provides novel insights into the role of microbes present in the gut-lung axis in O3 exposure-induced lung injury.

Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae Relieves Asthma by Inducing the Ferroptosis of Eosinophils and Inhibiting the p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway

Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae (RDN) is a traditional Chinese medicine that widely applied in the treatment of human diseases. This study aims to explore the therapeutic potential of RDN in asthma and the underlying mechanisms. A mouse model of asthma was established by the stimulation of ovalbumin (OVA). HE staining was performed to detect the pathological injuries of tracheal tissues. The protein expression of collagen I, FN1, α-SMA (airway remodeling markers), and p-p38 (a marker of the p38 MAPK pathway) were detected by Western blot. Eosinophils were then isolated from the model mice. Cell viability and ROS level were measured by CCK-8 and Flow cytometry, respectively. The mRNA expression of GPX4 and ACSL4 (ferroptosis markers) in eosinophils were measured by qRT-PCR. RDN significantly reduced the numbers of total cells and eosnophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration, and down-regulated remodeling markers (Collagen I, FN1, and α-SMA) in OVA-induced mice. The p38 MAPK pathway was blocked by the intervention of RDN in the model mice, and its blocking weakens the poor manifestations of OVA-induced asthma. In addition, RDN induced the ferroptosis of eosnophils both in vitro and in vivo. Blocking of the p38 MAPK pathway also enhanced the ferroptosis of eosnophils in vitro, evidenced by the decreased cell viability and GPX4 expression, and increased ROS level and ACSL4 expression. RDN induced the ferroptosis of eosinophils through inhibiting the p38 MAPK pathway, contributing to the remission of asthma.

Metabolomics in Animal Models of Bronchial Asthma and Its Translational Importance for Clinics

Bronchial asthma is an extremely heterogenous chronic respiratory disorder with several distinct endotypes and phenotypes. These subtypes differ not only in the pathophysiological changes and/or clinical features but also in their response to the treatment. Therefore, precise diagnostics represent a fundamental condition for effective therapy. In the diagnostic process, metabolomic approaches have been increasingly used, providing detailed information on the metabolic alterations associated with human asthma. Further information is brought by metabolomic analysis of samples obtained from animal models. This article summarizes the current knowledge on metabolomic changes in human and animal studies of asthma and reveals that alterations in lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, purine metabolism, glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle found in the animal studies resemble, to a large extent, the changes found in human patients with asthma. The findings indicate that, despite the limitations of animal modeling in asthma, pre-clinical testing and metabolomic analysis of animal samples may, together with metabolomic analysis of human samples, contribute to a novel way of personalized treatment of asthma patients.

Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) Knockdown Regulates Treg/Th17 Balance to Improve Asthma in Mice

Purpose

Asthma substantially affects the quality of life and health of children. Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) is an immune-related protein, which is predicted to be highly expressed in asthma. Here, we investigated the role of LCN2 in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model.

Methods

We knocked down LCN2 in an asthma mouse model and performed histopathological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining assay. Differentiated cells were assessed using Diff-Quick staining assay. We investigated the regulatory T (Treg) cell/ T helper 17 (Th17) cell balance using flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Inflammatory factors were measured using quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). The involved pathways were assessed using Western blotting.

Results

LCN2 was upregulated in patients with asthma. OVA promoted pathological deterioration in the lungs, increased IgE levels in the plasma, and elevated the number of differentiated inflammatory cells, whereas LCN2 knockdown abrogated the OVA-induced effects. Additionally, the Treg/Th17 imbalance and increased inflammatory cytokine levels were improved by LCN2 knockdown in OVA-treated mice. Moreover, LCN2 knockdown reversed the activation of the janus kinase (JNK) pathway.

Conclusion

LCN2 knockdown improved the Treg/Th17 balance, alleviated inflammation, and inactivated the JNK pathway in OVA-induced asthma mouse model, suggesting that LCN2 may be a novel therapeutic target for asthma in children.

Metabolomics reveals that PS-NPs promote lung injury by regulating prostaglandin B1 through the cGAS-STING pathway

Nanoplastics have been widely studied as environmental pollutants, which can accumulate in the human body through the food chain or direct contact. Research has shown that nanoplastics can affect the immune system and mitochondrial function, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Lungs and macrophages have important immune and metabolic functions. This study explored the effects of 100 nm PS-NPs on innate immunity, mitochondrial function, and cellular metabolism-related pathways in lung (BEAS-2B) cells and macrophages (RAW264.7). The results had shown that PS-NPs exposure caused a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular ROS accumulation, and Ca2+ overload, and activated the cGAS-STING signaling pathway related to innate immunity. These changes had been observed at concentrations of PS-NPs as low as 60 μg/mL, which might have been comparable to environmental levels. Non-target metabolomics and Western Blotting results confirmed that PS-NPs regulated prostaglandin B1 and other metabolites to cause cell damage through the cGAS-STING pathway. Supplementation of prostaglandin B1 alleviated the immune activation and metabolic disturbance caused by PS-NPs exposure. This study identified PS-NPs-induced innate immune activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and metabolic toxicity pathways, providing new insights into the potential for adverse outcomes of NPs in human life.

Effects of medwakh smoking on salivary metabolomics and its association with altered oral redox homeostasis among youth

The use of alternative tobacco products, particularly medwakh, has expanded among youth in the Middle East and around the world. The present study is conducted to investigate the biochemical and pathophysiological changes caused by medwakh smoking, and to examine the salivary metabolomics profile of medwakh smokers. Saliva samples were collected from 30 non-smokers and 30 medwakh smokers and subjected to metabolomic analysis by UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS. The CRP and Glutathione Peroxidase 1 activity levels in the study samples were quantified by ELISA and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) by TAC assay kits. Statistical measurements and thorough validation of data obtained from untargeted metabolomics identified 37 uniquely and differentially abundant metabolites in saliva of medwakh smokers. The levels of phthalate, L-sorbose, cytosine, uridine, alpha-hydroxy hippurate, and L-nicotine were noticeably high in medwakh smokers. Likewise, 20 metabolic pathways were differentially altered in medwakh smokers. This study identified a distinctive saliva metabolomics profile in medwakh smokers associated with altered redox homeostasis, metabolic pathways, antioxidant system, and CRP levels. The impact of the altered metabolites in medwakh smokers and their diagnostic utility require further research in large cohorts.