Effect of Houpo-Mahuang Decoction on aggravated asthma induced by cigarette smoke and the expression of TRPA1 and tight junctions in mice

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2022-07, Vol.293, p.115217-115217, Article 115217
• Main Authors: Sun, Yu-bo, Ni, Ying, Fan, Xin-sheng, Zhou, Li-ping, Yue, Qin-fei, Shang, Er-xin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Active extract; Asthma; Houpo-Mahuang decoction; Ovalbumin plus cigarette smoke; Tight junctions; Transient receptor potential ankyrin A1
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115217

Cigarette smoke (CS) is a common environmental irritant and a risk factor for asthma, as it induces as well as aggravates asthmatic attacks. The injured airway epithelial tight junctions (TJs) aggravate asthma. CS can aggravate asthma by activating the transient receptor potential ankyrin A1 (TRPA1) channel and enhancing TJs destruction. Houpo Mahuang decoction (HPMHD) is a classic traditional Chinese prescription for the treatment of asthma. However, its underlying action mechanism is unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of HPMHD on the asthma phenotype and the regulation of TRPA1 and TJs in a CS-induced mouse model of aggravated asthma. Under optimized chromatographic and mass spectrometry conditions, the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) technique was used to detect and analyze the major chemical components of HPMHD. C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into seven groups, viz, normal saline (NS) group, ovalbumin (OVA) + CS group, dexamethasone group, HPMHD high-dose group and low-dose groups, n-butanol extract group, and ethyl acetate extract group, with 10 mice in each group. OVA sensitization and challenge, and CS exposure were used to establish the aggravated asthma model. As the main indices to evaluate the protective effect of HPMHD, the eosinophils count in peripheral blood, percentages of inflammatory cells classified and the levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), airway responsiveness enhanced pause (Penh), and changes in lung histopathology were determined and compared among the groups. The mRNA and protein expression of TRPA1 and TJs in lung tissue was also examined. Using UPLC-QTOF-MS, the chemical components of HPMHD, including ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, laetrile, and amygdalin amide, were identified by 51 signal peaks. Compared with those in the NS group, the eosinophil number in the peripheral blood and the eosinophils and neutrophils percentages in BALF of the OVA + CS group were remarkably increased. Following the inhalation of 50 μl of acetylcholine chloride (ACH) at doses of 25 and 50 mg/mL, the Penh increased significantly (p