Effects of Immuno-modulation by Qingqiao Capsule on Secretory Otitis Media in Rats

ZHONG Lunkun; HE Xian; ZHU Jiali; HE Lu; CHEN Long; LUO Xiaoqin; SUN Yongdong; HU Wenjian

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-2922.2024.03.017

Abstract：Objective To investigate the regulatory effects of Qingqiao capsule on ear mucosal immunity in rats with secretory otitis media(SOM)through the AKT/mTOR/HIF-1α pathway.Methods Twenty-four rats were equally di-vided into a control group,a modeling group,a low-dose(0.36 g/100 mL)Qingqiao capsule treatment group,and a high-dose(0.72 g/100 mL)Qingqiao capsule treatment group(n=6 each).Otitis media was modeled in all groups except the control group and HE staining was used to observe pathological changes in the middle ear and eustachian tube.Immuno-histochemical staining was used to observe expression of HIF-1α and HypoxyprobeTM-1 Plus Kit was used to detect tis-sue hypoxia in middle ear mucosa.Peripheral blood helper T cells counts were obtained using flow cytometry.ELISA was used to label presence of VEGF,TGF-β,IL-23,IL-10,IFN-γ,IL-17 and IL-4.Immunoblotting was used to detect expression of AKT/mTOR/HIF-1α related proteins in middle ear mucosa.Results Compared to no treatment,middle ear tissue specimens from Qingqiao treated animals(both low and high dose groups)demonstrated reduced epithelial cells necrosis,inflammatory cells and fibrous hyperplasia;decreased HIF-1α expression;less presence of Th1,Th2,Th17,Treg and Th17/Treg and Th1/Th2;less IL-4,IL-10,IL-17,IL-23,IFN-γ,VEGF and TGF-β in middle ear lavage;and de-creased expression of p-AKT,p-mTOR and HIF-1α proteins,with no significant difference in of AKT and mTOR pro-teins expressions.Conclusion Qingqiao Capsule can regulate the immune responses in secretory otitis media in rats by inhibiting the AKT/mTOR/HIF-1α pathway,mitigate inflammatory response and tissue hypoxia.