2. Academic Validation
  3. Xiao Qing Long Tang ameliorates neutrophil extracellular trap-dendritic cells-T helper 17 cell axis in Neutrophilic Asthma

Xiao Qing Long Tang ameliorates neutrophil extracellular trap-dendritic cells-T helper 17 cell axis in Neutrophilic Asthma

  • PLoS One. 2025 Nov 6;20(11):e0336333. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0336333.
Xiaoying Ji 1,  Hongda Chen 2,  Sheng-Dong He 3,  Min Huang 4,  Xiaoli You 1,  Chuan Xiao 5,  Zhifeng Chen 6,  Jinwen Cai 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, GuizhouChina.
  • 2 Department of Chinese Medicine, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
  • 3 Department of Respiratory and Critical care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
  • 4 Department of Neurology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China.
  • 5 Department of Critical Care Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
  • 6 Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
  • 7 Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China.
PMID: 41196933 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0336333
Abstract

Background: Neutrophilic asthma (NA) is an allergic airway inflammation disease featuring heterogeneous neutrophil infiltration, which is driven by the interactions between dendritic cells (DCs) and T helper (Th) 17 cells. Neutrophils release neutrophil extracellular traps (Nets), which promote disease progression and glucocorticoid resistance. Therefore, targeting the interaction among Nets, DC and Th17 is a promising pathway for preventing organ damage. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), especially Xiao-qing-long-tang (XQLT), has shown potential in managing eosinophilic asthma by modulating Th2 cell-mediated inflammation, reducing eosinophilic infiltration, and airway remodeling. However, XQLT's effect on Nets and DCs-Th17 interactions in NA remains unclear.

Methods: We developed two models: an ovalbumin (OVA)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NA mouse model with interventions using either XQLT or sivelestat, and a series of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs)-Th17 cell differentiation models induced by Nets, OVA/LPS, OVA/LPS/Nets, XQLT, OVA/LPS/Nets/XQLT, or corresponding inhibitors. The chemical composition of XQLT was analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Key parameters were evaluated via histopathology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence scanning, flow cytometry, Western blot (WB) analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: In OVA/LPS-induced mice, treatment with sivelestat in OVA/LPS-induced mice reduced airway inflammation, Nets formation characterized by citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) expressions, Th2/17 cell proportions in lungs, and interleukin (IL)-4, 6, 17, and 23 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In vitro, OVA/LPS/Nets promoted IL-6/23 secretions and Th17 differentiation through increased p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling phosphorylation in DCs. Fifty-one compounds were identified in XQLT, with 11 predicted to bind MAPK proteins with high affinity. XQLT significantly inhibited Nets-DCs-Th17 Axis and p38MAPK/NF-κB signaling in both NA mouse and cell models.

Conclusion: XQLT offered a promising treatment strategy for regulating the Nets-DCs-Th17 axis in NA.

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