Experimental Study on Lupeol Alleviating Airway Inflammation and Mucus Hypersecretion in Mice with Chronic Asthma via Th2 Cytokines

CHEN Zhi; SHAN Lina

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2096-305X.2025.06.001

Abstract：Objective To explore the effects of lupeol(LUP)on airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in asthmatic mouse models.Methods Adult male mice were selected and randomly divided into 4 groups(n=8)using a random number table,including the Control group,the Ovalbumin(OVA)group(OVA group),the OVA+LUP-low-dose group(OVA+L-LUP group),and the OVA+LUP-high-dose group(OVA+H-LUP group).The mouse asthma model was established by using OVA aerosolization.After 75 days of intervention,the mice were sacrificed and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)and lung tissue specimens were obtained.The pathological changes and mucus secretion in lung tissue were analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and periodic acid schiff(PAS)staining;the levels of interleukin 4(IL-4),interleukin 5(IL-5),and interleukin 13(IL-13)in BALF were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA);the mRNA levels of mucin 5AC(MUC5AC),thymic stromal lymphopoietin(TSLP),IL-4,IL-5 and IL-13 in lung tissue were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(Quantitative Real-time PCR,qPCR).Results After 75 days of OVA aerosol intervention,HE staining revealed significant inflammatory cell infiltration in the airways and surrounding tissues of asthmatic mice,while PAS staining showed a marked increase in goblet cells and mucus in the airways of asthmatic mice;the number of lymphocytes,and the number of eosinophils in BALF were all significantly increased(P＜0.05);the levels of IL-4,IL-5,and IL-13 in BALF were significantly increased;the mRNA levels of MUC5AC,TSLP,IL-4,IL-5,and IL-13 in lung tissue were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the OVA group,all indicators in the OVA+L-LUP group and the OVA+H-LUP group were lower(P＜0.05).At the same time,compared with the OVA+L-LUP group,all indicators in the OVA+H-LUP group were lower(P＜0.05).Conclusion In conclusion,lupeol can alleviate the airway inflammatory response in mice with chronic asthma induced by OVA by down-regulating the synthesis and release of Th2 inflammatory factors.This study has laid a theoretical foundation for the application of lupeol in the clinical treatment of asthma.