Xiao-Er-Kang-Du capsules regulate autophagy against the influenza B virus (Victoria strain) through the mTOR/ULK1/Beclin1/VPS34 pathway

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2025-01, Vol.337 (Pt 2), p.118872, Article 118872
• Main Authors: Cao, Yan, Han, Jing, Xiao, Yan, Wang, Zhongtian, Zhang, Haiyang, Fang, Ruikang, Li, Jingjing, Dong, Meiwen, Chen, Rui, Zhu, Guangze, Han, Jicheng, Sun, Liping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Autophagy; Autophagy - drug effects; Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog - metabolism; Beclin-1 - metabolism; Dogs; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - chemistry; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - pharmacology; Female; Humans; Influenza B virus; Influenza B virus - drug effects; Influenza B virus - physiology; Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; mTOR/ULK1/Beclin1/VPS34 pathway; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - drug therapy; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - virology; Signal Transduction - drug effects; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism; Xiao-Er-Kang-Du capsules
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118872

Xiao-er-kang-du (XEKD) capsule is a Chinese herbal formula used for treatment of upper respiratory tract infection caused by various viruses in pediatric patients in China. XEKD is used clinically for the treatment of influenza-like symptoms, including fever, chills, cough, stuffy and runny nose, headache, and sore throat, with remarkable efficacy. However, the pharmacologic mechanism of XEKD against influenza B virus (IBV) infection is unclear. The main purpose of the present work is to explore the curative effect as well as possible mechanisms of XEKD against influenza B virus (IBV) (Victoria strain). Both in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to confirm the antiviral properties of XEKD. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to analyze the active components and assess the stability of XEKD. In addition, the mechanism of action of XEKD against IBV (Victoria) was investigated by western blot, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemical analyses, in addition to confocal fluorescence microscopy. The findings revealed that XEKD demonstrated antiviral effects against IBV infection in both in vivo and in vitro via the mTOR/ULK1/Beclin1/VPS34 pathway and promote cellular autophagy to mitigate IBV-induced lung tissue damage. The results of this work are expected to lead to a deeper understanding of the mechanism underlying the effect of the XEKD capsule against IBV infections. IBV infection was found to inhibit autophagy, which exacerbated inflammatory damage. XEKD regulates autophagy through the mTOR/ULK1/Beclin1/VPS34 pathway and exerts antiviral effects, thereby laying a foundation for further development of XEKD as a potential therapeutic against IBV infection. [Display omitted] •XEKD has anti-IBV effects in vivo and in vitro.•IBV can inhibit autophagy through mTOR/ULK1/Beclin1/VPS34 pathway, thus aggravating infection.•XEKD exerts anti-IBV effects by regulating autophagy through the mTOR/ULK1/Beclin1/VPS34 pathway.