School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Guangzhou, China.
J Immunol Res. 2020 May 25;2020:6841078. doi: 10.1155/2020/6841078. eCollection 2020.
Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction (MFXD), a Chinese traditional herbal formulation, has been used to treat allergic rhinitis (AR) in China for centuries. However, the mechanism underlying its effect on AR is unclear. This study investigated the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of MFXD on AR. Ovalbumin-induced AR rat models were established, which were then treated with MFXD for 14 days. Symptom scores of AR were calculated. The structure of the gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and qPCR. Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content in rat stool and serum was determined by GC-MS. Inflammatory and immunological responses were assessed by histopathology, ELISA, flow cytometry, and western blotting. Our study demonstrated that MFXD reduced the symptom scores of AR and serum IgE and histamine levels. MFXD treatment restored the diversity of the gut microbiota: it increased the abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria. MFXD treatment also increased SCFA content, including that of acetate, propionate, and butyrate. Additionally, MFXD administration downregulated the number of Th17 cells and the levels of the Th17-related cytokines IL-17 and RORt. By contrast, there was an increase in the number of Treg cells and the levels of the Treg-related cytokines IL-10 and Foxp3. MFXD and butyrate increased the levels of ZO-1 in the colon. This study indicated MFXD exerts therapeutic effects against AR, possibly by regulating the gut microbial composition and Th17/Treg balance.
麻黄附子细辛汤（MFXD）是一种中药方剂，在中国已被用于治疗过敏性鼻炎（AR）数百年。然而，其治疗 AR 的作用机制尚不清楚。本研究旨在探讨 MFXD 治疗 AR 的作用机制。建立卵清蛋白诱导的 AR 大鼠模型，然后用 MFXD 治疗 14 天。计算 AR 的症状评分。通过 16S rRNA 基因测序和 qPCR 分析肠道微生物组的结构。通过 GC-MS 测定大鼠粪便和血清中的短链脂肪酸（SCFA）含量。通过组织病理学、ELISA、流式细胞术和 Western blot 评估炎症和免疫反应。我们的研究表明，MFXD 降低了 AR 的症状评分和血清 IgE 和组胺水平。MFXD 治疗恢复了肠道微生物组的多样性：增加了厚壁菌门和拟杆菌门的丰度，降低了变形菌门和蓝藻门的丰度。MFXD 治疗还增加了 SCFA 的含量，包括乙酸盐、丙酸盐和丁酸盐。此外，MFXD 给药下调了 Th17 细胞数量和 Th17 相关细胞因子 IL-17 和 RORt 的水平。相比之下，Treg 细胞数量和 Treg 相关细胞因子 IL-10 和 Foxp3 的水平增加。MFXD 和丁酸盐增加了结肠中 ZO-1 的水平。本研究表明，MFXD 对 AR 具有治疗作用，可能通过调节肠道微生物组成和 Th17/Treg 平衡。
