Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (2): 281-290.DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2025.02.022

• Original articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Jinxin oral liquid (金欣口服液) reduced lung inflammation in influenza A virus infected mice through inhibiting NOD-like receptor protein 3 pathway

LI Tao1,2, WANG Xianzheng3, XIONG Yingcai2, DAI Qigang1, WANG Shouchuan1(), JI Jianjian2()   

  1. 1 Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China
    2 Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Children’s Health and Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
    3 Basic Medical College of Hebei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
  • Received:2023-12-06 Accepted:2024-05-15 Online:2025-04-15 Published:2025-03-10
  • Contact: Prof. JI Jianjian, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Children’s Health and Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China. jijj@njucm.edu.cn; Prof. WANG Shouchuan, Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China. wscnj@njucm.edu.cn, Telephone: +86-18260087292
  • Supported by:
    Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by Chinese Association for Clinical Medicine(2021-QNRC2-B14);Colleges and universities in Jiangsu Province Natural Science Research: Investigating the Mechanism of Jinping Decoction Inhibiting the Differentiation of Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells and Regulating Lipid Metabolism(22KJA360004);Jiangsu Graduate Practice Innovation Program: A Study on the Mechanism of Xiaofeng Xuanqiao Decoction in Treating Pediatric Rhinitis based on Interleukin-33/Suppression of Tumorigenicity 2(SJCX23_0803);Wuxi Health Commission Scientific Research Project: Observation on the Efficacy of Xiaofeng Xuanqiao Decoction in Treating Pediatric Rhinitis (Wind-Phlegm Obstructing Orifices Syndrome) and Its Influence on Serum IgE and Related Inflammatory Cytokine Levels(M202035);High-level Construction of Key Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Disciplines, China: Research on Tic Disorders from the Perspective of the Five Viscera Syndrome Treatment(NZYEK004);High-level Construction of Key TCM Disciplines, China: Research on the Mechanism of Xiaofeng Xuanqiao Decoction in Treating Allergic Rhinitis based on the Interleukin-33/ST2 Axis(NZYEK006)

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effects of Jinxin oral liquid (金欣口服液, JX) on influenza A virus(H1N1)influenza virus infected mice.

METHODS: We established a model of by intranasally infecting the mice with H1N1 virus. The mice were then orally administered JX or ribavirin to evaluate their therapeutic effects in vivo. We conducted histologic and immunohistochemical analyses, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay or quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to assess lung damage and the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Western blot (WB) experiments was conducted to measure the activation of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) pathway. Flow cytometry was employed to quantify the populations of alveolar macrophages (AMs). To block the NLRP3 pathway, mice were treated with MCC950. For AMs depletion, mice were intranasally administered a single dose of clodronate liposome.

RESULTS: Administration of JX demonstrated a protective effect against H1N1-induced lung pathology by reducing lung injury, suppressing lung inflammation, and decreasing viral titer. JX significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor-ɑ, in H1N1-infected mice. JX inhibits the activation of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain/ caspase 1 pathway in the lungs and AMs of H1N1-infected mice. The inhibitory effect of JX on IL-1β secretion was mediated by blocking the NLRP3 pathway activation in AMs.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that JX holds promise as a potential therapeutic agent for suppressing the aggressive pro-inflammatory response induced by H1N1 infection. Further research and development are warranted to explore the full potential of JX in the prevention and treatment of H1N1 infection

Key words: influenza A virus, H1N1 subtype, NLR family, Pyrin domain-containing 3 protein, interleukin-1β, macrophages, alveolar, Jinxin oral liquid

Cite this article

LI Tao, WANG Xianzheng, XIONG Yingcai, DAI Qigang, WANG Shouchuan, JI Jianjian. Jinxin oral liquid (金欣口服液) reduced lung inflammation in influenza A virus infected mice through inhibiting NOD-like receptor protein 3 pathway[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(2): 281-290.