title: Aqueous Extract of Gumiganghwal-tang, a Traditional Herbal Medicine, Reduces Pulmonary Fibrosis by Transforming Growth Factor-β1/Smad Signaling Pathway in Murine Model of Chronic Asthma.
abstract: Gumiganghwal-tang is a traditional herbal prescription that is used widely for the treatment of the common cold and inflammatory diseases in Korea and other Asian countries. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of a Gumiganghwal-tang aqueous extract (GGTA) against airway inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis using a mouse model of chronic asthma. Chronic asthma was modeled in BALB/c mice via sensitization/challenge with an intraperitoneal injection of 1% ovalbumin (OVA) and inhalation of nebulized 1% OVA for 4 weeks. GGTA (100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg) was also administered by oral gavage once a day for 4 weeks. We investigated the number of inflammatory cells, production of T-helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines, chemokine and the total transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF); the levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the plasma; the infiltration of inflammatory cells in lung tissue; and the expression of TGF-β1, Smad-3, and collagen in lung tissue. Our results revealed that GGTA lowered the recruitment of inflammatory cells (particularly, lymphocyte); and decreased the production of Th2 cytokines, chemokine and total TGF-β1; and attenuated the levels of total and OVA-specific IgE; and decreased the infiltration of inflammatory cells. Moreover, GGTA significantly reduced the expression of TGF-β1 and Smad-3, and lowered collagen deposition. These results indicate that GGTA reduces airway inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis by regulating Th2 cytokines production and the TGF-β1/Smad-3 pathway, thus providing a potential treatment for chronic asthma.
authors.affiliation: K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Woo-Young
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3321-3788
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In-Sik
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeun-Kyoo
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mee-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D018925:Chemokines / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051785:Smad Proteins; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C574161:kumi-kyokatsu-to; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin; D003094:Collagen