Novel strategies for identification and prevention of idiosyncratic liver injury caused by TCM compatibility: Exemplification by Epimedii Folium and Psoraleae Fructus

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compatibility (TCMC) is an important form of clinical application of TCM, and proper compatibility are key to ensuring the safe use of TCM. However, reports of liver injury associated with the combination of Epimedii Folium (EF) and Psoraleae Fructus (PF), a commonly used pair of TCM in clinical, have gradually increased in recent years. The mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains unclear, which significantly hinders the development of risk prevention and control strategies for the EF and PF combination.

Methods: Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were employed to establish an in vitro inflammasome activation model for screening susceptibility factors of idiosyncratic liver injury exacerbated by the combination of EF and PF. Subsequently, a classical idiosyncratic liver injury evaluation model was utilized to objectively assess the susceptibility of the combined treatment in aggravating liver injury. Finally, mechanisms underlying the combined use of EF and PF in exacerbating idiosyncratic liver injury were systematically evaluated through RNA-seq, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry.

Results: The combined use of EF and PF significantly enhanced the activation of the inflammasome. Specifically, Icariside I, a main compound of EF, synergistically promoted the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome induced by bavachinin, a main compound of PF, while bavachinin directly activated inflammasome components such as NLRP3, NLRC4, and AIM2, leading to enhanced inflammasome activation, increased inflammation, increased Apoptosis, and exacerbated oxidative stress, ultimately exacerbating liver injury. In addition, RNA-seq and GSEA analyses further confirm the association between the exacerbation of liver injury and abnormal activation of inflammasomes. Therefore, inflammasome-promoting TCM, such as EF, and inflammasome-activating TCM, such as PF, should be avoided in combination with immune-activated populations, and co-administration with drugs that downregulate inflammasome activation can reduce toxicity.

Conclusion: In summary, this study proposes a precision toxicity control strategy represented by exacerbate idiosyncratic liver injury caused by the combination of EF and PF, offering new insights to ensure its clinical safety and thereby reduce the occurrence of TCM-related liver injury events.

Epimedii Folium; Idiosyncratic liver injury; Inflammasome; Psoraleae Fructus; Traditional Chinese medicine incompatibility.