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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 2: 285 - 293

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.02.002

Original Articles

Gut microbiota-mediated short-chain fatty acids contribute to the protective effects of Xiaoxuming decoction (小续命汤) against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury

  • XIANG Yijin ,
  • YANG Zhigang ,
  • GONG Shaomin ,
  • LI Xiangting ,
  • CAI Min
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  • 1 Department of Integrative Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
    2 Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
    3 Department of Nephrology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
XIANG Yijin, Department of Integrative Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. qqdemi728@126.com; Telephone: +86-21-64041990

Received date: 2024-09-26

  Accepted date: 2025-06-24

  Online published: 2026-04-04

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of Xiaoxuming decoction (小续命汤, XXMD) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI).

METHODS: LPS was used to construct an ALI model in mice and human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (HPAEpiCs). Acetate and acetate-producing bacteria, including Blautia hydrotrophica, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Bacteroides vulgatus, were detected after XXMD treatment. Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin, phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (p-NF-κBp65), and NF-κBp65 levels were measured by Western blotting, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), and IL-6 secretion. Transepithelial electrical resistance, fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran, and cell counting kit-8 assays were used to detect the cell’s monolayer integrity, permeability, and viability.

RESULTS: XXMD alleviated the LPS-induced downregulation of acetate and acetate-producing bacteria in feces. Furthermore, XXMD suppressed the LPS-induced downregulation of ZO-1 and occludin expression in lung tissues, LPS-induced upregulation of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and p-NF-κBp65 levels in lung tissues. Acetate had similar effects in LPS-induced mice. Meanwhile, the seven-day survival probability was improved by XXMD or acetate treatment. Furthermore, acetate could alleviate LPS-mediated cell viability, inflammation, and permeability in HPAEpiCs, while acetate-induced effects could be abrogated by GLPG0974, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) receptor G-protein coupled receptor 43 antagonist.

CONCLUSION: XXMD’s therapeutic effect may be related to gut microbiota-mediated SCFAs, which alleviated LPS-induced ALI.

Key words： acute lung injury; short-chain fatty acids; permeability; Xiaoxuming decoction

Cite this article

XIANG Yijin , YANG Zhigang , GONG Shaomin , LI Xiangting , CAI Min . Gut microbiota-mediated short-chain fatty acids contribute to the protective effects of Xiaoxuming decoction (小续命汤) against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026 , 46(2) : 285 -293 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.02.002

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