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Updated: Aug 29, 2025
Murine Model of Allergen Induced Asthma
Published on: May 14, 2012
The "time-response" effect of Wenyang Pingchuan Formula on miR-19a in asthmatic mice experiment
Shen-Hua Jiang1, Xiang Piao1,2, Jian-Er Yu3,2
1Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Insights
Wenyang Pingchuan Formula (WPCF) effectively treats childhood asthma by restoring Th1/Th2 balance. Longer WPCF treatment durations show greater efficacy in reducing airway inflammation, potentially through the JAK/STAT and NF-κB pathways.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
Background:
- Wenyang Pingchuan Formula (WPCF) is an empirical treatment for acute childhood asthma.
- The precise time-effect relationship of WPCF in asthma treatment remains unclear.
- This study investigates WPCF's impact on key inflammatory pathways and microRNAs in asthma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between Janus activated kinase signal transducer and activator of transcriptions (JAK/STAT), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and microRNA (miR-19a) in asthma.
- To determine the optimal time-effect relationship of WPCF in mitigating airway inflammation in asthmatic mice.
Main Methods:
- Asthmatic mouse models were established using ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization.
- Groups included control, model, dexamethasone (DEX), and WPCF treatments.
- Assays included ELISA, real-time PCR, and Western blot to analyze inflammatory mediators and signaling molecules at 7 and 28 days.
Main Results:
- WPCF treatment significantly reduced IL-4 and IL-13 levels while increasing IFN-γ in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).
- WPCF downregulated miR-19a, STAT6, p-STAT6, p65, and p-p65, while upregulating SOCS1 and Tnfaip3.
- Dexamethasone treatment led to a significant decrease in mouse weight.
Conclusions:
- WPCF effectively restores the Th1/Th2 balance in asthmatic mice.
- Treatment efficacy increases with longer intervention periods.
- Downregulation of miR-19a via JAK/STAT and NF-κB activation is a potential mechanism for WPCF's anti-inflammatory effects.
Background:
Wenyang Pingchuan Formula (WPCF) is an empirical formula for the treatment of acute childhood asthma. However, the "time-effect" relationship of this prescription is not clear. This paper explores the relationship between Janus activated kinase signal transducer and activator of transcriptions (JAK/STAT), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and microRNA (miR-19a), and also preliminarily determines the best time-effect relationship of WPCF in reducing the airway inflammation in asthmatic mice.
Method:
80 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: control (CON) group, model (MDL) group, dexamethasone (DEX) group, and WPCF group. MDL group was established through intraperitoneal injection of 10% ovalbumin (OVA) and Al(OH)3 solution and the inhalation of aerosolized 5% OVA solution. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), real-time PCR and Western blot were conducted to determine the levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), contents of miR-19a mRNA and STAT6, phosphorylated signal transducers and activators of transcription 6 (p-STAT6), p65, phosphorylated p65 (p-p65), suppressors of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1), and tumor necrosis factor α-induced protein-3 (Tnfaip3) proteins after 7 and 28 days of intervention respectively.
Results:
Significant down-regulation of IL-4 and IL-13 expression (P<0.05) and up-regulation of IFN-γ expression (P<0.05) in BALF have been observed for WPCF group compared with the MDL group. The significant down-regulation of miR-19a mRNA and STAT6, p-STAT6, p65, p-p65 proteins (P<0.05) and up-regulation of SOCS1 and Tnfaip3 proteins (P<0.05) in BALF was also observed for WPCF group compared to the MDL group. During the experiment, the weight of the mice in DEX group significantly decreased (P<0.05) compared with the other groups.
Conclusions:
WPCF could restore Th1/Th2 balance. The longer the intervention time, the more effective the treatment. The down-regulation of miR-19a mRNA by activating JAK/STAT and NF-κB signal pathways may be a possible mechanism by which WPCF alleviates airway inflammation.
