The Study on the Molecular Mechanism of Erchen Tang on Asthma Based on Network Pharmacology

Abstract

Objective: To explore the active ingredients of ECT and their targets of asthma and investigate the potential mechanism of ECT on asthma. Methods: Firstly, the active ingredients and target of ECT were screened for BATMAN and TCMSP, functional analysis was finished via DAVID. Then, animal model was induced by ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide. Eosinophil (EOS) counts, EOS active substance Eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) and eotaxin levels were detected followed the instruction. Pathological changes of lungs tissue were examined by H&E staining and transmission electron microscopy. Interleukin (IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, TNF-α), TIgE and IgE level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by ELISA. Finally, the protein expression of TGF-β / STAT3 pathway to lung tissue was detected by Western Blot. Results: A total of 450 compounds and 526 target genes were retrieved in Erchen tang. Functional analysis indicated that its treatment of asthma was associated with inflammatory factor and fibrosis. In the animal experiment, the results showed that ECT significantly regulated inflammatory cytokine (IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, TNF-α) levels in (P<0.05, P<0.01) , reduced EOS number (P<0.05) and also ECP and Eotaxin levels in blood (P<0.05) in BALF and / or plasma. Bronchial tissue injury was obviously improved on ECT treatment. Associated protein in TGF-β / STAT3 pathway were significantly regulated by ECT (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study originally provided the evidence that the Erchen tang was effective against the treatment of asthma symptoms, and its underlying mechanism might be regulation of inflammatory factor secretion and TGF-β/STAT3 signaling pathway.