Yunpi Xiefei Huatan Tang decoction reduces airway inflammation and airway remodeling in asthmatic mice through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Background: Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic respiratory diseases among children, markedly impairing patient's health and imposing an increasing burden on the healthcare system. Several traditional Chinese medicines have demonstrated efficacy in alleviating asthma symptoms through studies conducted on animal models. Recent studies have shown that the Yunpi Xiefei Huatan Tang decoction (YPD) exhibits significant therapeutic outcomes in treating phlegm-obstructed pulmonary asthma. However, the precise regulatory effects of YPD on the progression of asthma require additional investigation.

Objective: To explore the functions of YPD in asthma progression.

Material and methods: The asthma rat model triggered by ovalbumin (OVA) was established successfully. The pathological changes of lung tissues were examined through Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining. The levels of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-1β were tested through Enzyme-Linked-Immunosorbent Serologic Assay (ELISA). The number of total cells or eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was confirmed through cell counter. The collagen deposition in bronchi was assessed through Masson staining. The protein expressions were measured through western blot.

Results: This study demonstrated that YPD could mitigate airway inflammation in an OVA-triggered asthma rat model. Furthermore, YPD was found to decrease the production of inflammatory cytokines in the lungs and suppress the infiltration of inflammatory cells into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Additionally, the airway remodeling stimulated by OVA could be suppressed following YPD treatment. Finally, it was disclosed that YPD inhibited the wingless-related integration site-beta-catenin (Wnt/β-catenin) signaling pathway in the OVA-stimulated asthma rat model.

Conclusion: YPD alleviated airway inflammation and remodeling in asthmatic mice via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This research offers significant insights into the potential application of YPD in the treatment of asthma.