Anti-asthmatic effects of andrographolide on OVA-stimulated mice via Th17 cell differentiation-mediated glycolytic pathway

Background

Asthma has always been considered a major global health issue. Despite the significant efficacy of the established treatment, the incidence of exacerbation and mortality remains alarmingly high. Andrographolide (AG), extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Andrographis paniculate, has been proved to be anti-asthmatic with different mechanisms. But there have been no studies involving the regulatory function of AG in asthma through glycolysis. Herein, we aim to explore the potential effects and mechanism of glycolytic pathway in AG inhibition of asthma.

Methods

Animals were randomly divided into 6 groups: a control group, an OVA model group, AG (0.1 mg/kg) group, AG (0.5 mg/kg) group, AG (1 mg/kg) group and DEX (2 mg/kg) group. The OVA models were established and the BALF, serum and lung tissue of the mice were collected separately for the administration of ELISA, rt-PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence staining. Network pharmacology and flow cytometry were also utilized to analyze and verify the potential targets of AG in treatment of asthma by glycolysis.

Results

AG attenuated the OVA-induced production of HK2, lactate and PKM2 in lung tissue and the production of IL-1β in serum and lung tissue; AG restrained the OVA-stimulated expression of mRNA of Glut-1, LDHA and PKM2 in lung tissue; AG inhibited the OVA-mediated protein expression of HK2, Glut-1, LDHA, phosphorylation of PKM2, IL-17 in lung tissue; AG also alleviated the expression of PKM2 in lung tissue. Network pharmacology revealed 36 target genes including IL-1β and potential mechanism Th17 cell differentiation which was suppressed by AG.

Conclusions

We conclude that AG inhibits the inflammatory response of asthma in OVA-stimulated mice by blocking the activation of glycolytic pathway, especially by targeting Th17 cell differentiation.