Xiaoer niuhuang qingxin powder alleviates influenza a virus infection by inhibiting the activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Xiaoer Niuhuang Qingxin Powder (XNQP) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula with significant clinical efficacy for treating febrile convulsions and influenza.

Aim of the study: This study aims to explore the potential mechanisms of XNQP in combating combating the influenza A virus, providing a theoretical basis for its clinical application.

Materials and methods: The present investigation employed network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis to determine the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway as a viable target for XNQP intervention in IAV infection.Subsequently, a mouse model of influenza A virus infection was established, and different doses of XNQP were used for intervention. The protein expression levels of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB were detected using HE staining, Elisa, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blot.

Results: The results showed that treatment with XNQP after IAV infection reduced the mortality and prolonged the survival time of infected mice. It reduced the release of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the serum and alleviated pathological damage in the lung tissue following infection. Additionally, the levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, and p-NF-κB P65 proteins were significantly reduced in lung tissue by XNQP. The inhibitory effect of XNQP on the expression of MyD88 and NF-κB was antagonized when TLR4 signaling was overexpressed. Consequently, the expression levels of MyD88, NF-κB, and p-NF-κB P65 were increased in lung tissue. Conversely, the expression levels of the proteins MyD88, NF-κB, and p-NF-κB P65 were downregulated when TLR4 signaling was inhibited.

Conclusions: XNQP alleviated lung pathological changes, reduced serum levels of inflammatory factors, reduced mortality, and prolonged survival time in mice by inhibiting the overexpression of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in lung tissues after IAV infection.

Keywords: Infection of influenza a virus; Network pharmacology; Traditional Chinese medicine antiviral; Xiaoer niuhuang qingxin powder.