Qingfei Zhisou oral liquid alleviates fever-induced inflammation by regulating arachidonic acid and lysophospholipids metabolism and inhibiting hypothalamus transient receptor potential ion channels expression.

Objective: To explore how Qingfei Zhisou oral liquid (, QFZS) adjusts body temperature bias and the interaction of inflammatory factors levels and metabolomic differences.

Methods: Dry yeast was subcutaneously injected at 10 mL/kg to establish the pyrexia model. We randomly divided 60 Sprague-Dawley rats into five groups: control, model, positive, low dose of QFZS and high dose of QFZS. Inflammatory proteins were evaluated by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. For the examination of the endogenous metabolites, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry were employed.

Results: QFZS significantly reduced rats' body temperature within 6 h after dry yeast injection and reduced the secretion of the arginine vasopressin, cyclic adenosine monophosphate, prostaglandin E-2, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β in serum. Meanwhile, we identified 41 metabolites between the model and QFZS groups, including arachidonic acid and lysophospholipids. QFZS restored normal arachidonic acid levels. Based on the differential metabolite enrichment analysis, QFZS's anti-inflammatory and anti-pyrexia effects might be related to the inflammatory pathway regulated by transient receptor potential. Additionally, QFZS treatment reduced transient receptor potential melastatin 2 ion channel expression and affected TNF-α, heat shock protein 70, and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in the hypothalamus.

Conclusion: QFZS exerts its regulatory effects on fever by regulating the metabolism of lysophospholipids and arachidonic acid and the regulation of inflammation via transient receptor potential ion channels channels.