Protostemonine attenuates alternatively activated macrophage and DRA-induced asthmatic inflammation

Asthma is one of the most common pulmonary diseases that threatens human life because of lack of effective medicines. Protostemonine (PSN), an active alkaloid extracted from the roots of Stemona sesslifolia, has anti-inflammatory effects on acute lung injury and acute liver failure. However, it has not been defined whether PSN alleviates asthmatic inflammation. Here, we reported that PSN inhibits pulmonary eosinophil infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, mucus secretion, IgE and Th2 cytokine (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IL-33) production by using DRA (dust mites, ragweed and aspergillus)-induced murine asthma model. Moreover, PSN also attenuated the expression of Arginase-1 (Arg-1), Ym-1 and Fizz-1, markers of AAM (alternatively activated macrophage) polarization, in lung tissues. In addition, PSN attenuated IL-4-induced expression of Arg-1, Ym-1 and Fizz-1 in bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs). Treatment with PSN decreased IL-4-induced STAT6 phosphorylation, KLF4 and IRF4 expression in BMDMs. Collectively, our results indicated that PSN ameliorates AAM polarization and asthmatic inflammation and might be a potential agent for treating asthma.