Metabolomics-based study on the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Tanreqing in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome in rats

Wang Zhichao; Zhou Yongli; Yan Bogang

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-1949.2025.02.009

Abstract：Objective To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Tanreqing on rat models of acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)and to explore its potential anti-inflammatory mechanism.Methods Twenty-seven male SD rats aged 6-8 weaks were randomly divided into blank group(NC group),model group(ARDS group),positive control group(dexamethasone sodium phosphate,DEX group),low-dose Tanreqing group(LTRQ)and high-dose Tanreqing group(HTRQ).The NC group accepted intratracheal instillation of normal saline,other groups accepted intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)to construct the rat models of ARDS.The pathological changes of lung tissue,the levels of serum inflammatory factors[tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-6,IL-8,IL-1 β]and the metabolomics of lung tissue was analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry.Results HE staining showed that compared with NC group,ARDS group had obvious inflammatory cell infiltration and alveolar wall thickening,and Tanreqing group(LTRQ,HTRQ)significantly improved the injury of lung tissue.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)showed that compared with NC group,the levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-6,IL-8 and IL-1 β in ARDS group were significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the levels of inflammatory factors were decreased after Tanreqing treatment.Metabolomic analysis showed that after Tanreqing treatment,the levels of metabolites related to inflammation such as thromboxane B2 and orotate were significantly reduced(P＜0.05),and the differential metabolites were mainly concentrated in the inflammatory pathways such as butyric acid metabolism and histidine metabolism.Conclusions Tanreqing injection can effectively reduce the lung inflammation injury in ARDS rats and the level of serum inflammatory factors,and play an anti-inflammatory role by regulating key metabolic pathways.