OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanistic effects of Tiaobu Feishen therapy(TBFS) on inflammation induced by cigarette smoke extract(CSE) in a human monocyte/macrophage cell line.METHODS: The human monocyte/macrophage cell line THP-1 was stimulated with 10% CSE in the presence or absence of Bufei Yishen formula(BYF),Bufei Jianpi formula(BJF) and Yiqi Zishen formula(YZF). All formulations contained serum. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured in the supernatants using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The activity of STAT3 DNA binding was detected using electrophoretic mobility shift assay and janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription(JAK/STAT) pathway activation was assessed using Western blotting.RESULTS: The results showed that BYF, BJF and YZF treatment strongly decreased the CSE-induced secretion of interleukin(IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α and matrix metalloproteinase-9 by THP-1 cells. Furthermore, BYF, BJF and YZF treatment attenuated STAT3 DNA binding capacity and JAK2 and STAT3 were shown to be phosphorylated.CONCLUSION: The data revealed that BYF, BJF and YZF effectively inhibited a CSE-induced inflammatory response in THP-1 cells by limiting activation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.