Combination of Chinese and Western Medicine Optimizes the Intestinal Microbiota of Exacerbated Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Rats.

Xiaojun Li,Qingqing Bian,Tingting Shen,Jin-Yi Wan,Jing Mao,Suyun Li,Ya Li,Yinshuang Xuan

doi:10.1155/2021/9975407

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) changes the structure of the intestinal microbiota and activates the acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). Previous studies showed that the way to treat COPD and AECOPD via combination of Chinese and Western medicine was successful. However, the effect of the intervention on the structure of the intestinal microbiota has not been studied. In this study, we collected feces from model rats following intervention, integrated with Chinese and Western medicine, and used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to clarify the effect on intestinal microbiota. Methods. Twenty-five rats were randomized into the control, COPD, AECOPD, Western medicine (moxifloxacin hydrochloride tablets + salbutamol sulfate tablets, MXF/STL), and integrated Chinese and Western medicine (Tong Sai granules + moxifloxacin hydrochloride tablets + salbutamol sulfate tablets + Bu Fei Yi Shen granules + salbutamol sulfate tablets, TMS/FS) groups. Lipopolysaccharide-combined cigarette smoke exposure method was used to simulate the acute exacerbation-stabilization of COPD. Then, the model rats were intervened. Results. The intervention of combination Chinese and Western medicine improved the lung function, decreased the C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and Serum Amyloid A (SAA), and relieved pathological damage to the pulmonary alveoli and intestinal mucous of AECOPD rats. The proportion of Firmicutes, TM7, Oscillospira, Clostridium, Ruminococcus, Blautia, Treponema, and Turicibacter decreased, whereas that of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Lactobacillus, and Allobaculum increased via the intervention with the combination of Chinese and Western medicine. Conclusions. The intervention with Chinese and Western medicine optimizes the intestinal microbiota structure in AECOPD rat model, which provides a basis for the COPD study in the Chinese medicine.

Highlights

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, treatable, and preventable disease, which is characterized by airflow limitation and persistent respiratory symptoms [1]
FEV0.3 in the COPD group was significantly lower (6.63 mL, P < 0.01) than that of the control group (11.29 mL), but significantly higher than that of the Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) group (4.15 mL, P < 0.01). It raised significantly in the MXF/STL group (7.50 mL, P < 0.01) and the TMS/FS group (9.70 mL, P < 0.01), compared to the AECOPD group (Figure 1(b)). e trend of FEV0.3/Forced vital capacity (FVC) is consistent with the FEV0.3 (Figure 1(c), S1)
Documented clinical studies have verified that integrated Chinese and Western medicine has good effects on COPD, such as decreasing the frequency of acute exacerbation, improving lung function, relieving clinical symptoms, and improving exercise endurance [6, 7, 17]. is study shows that the intervention of integrated Chinese and Western medicine in AECOPD rats can reduce the pathological injury of alveoli, and reduce the inflammatory infiltration of intestinal mucosa by increasing FVC, FEV0.3, and FEV0.3/FVC, as well as reducing C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and Serum Amyloid A (SAA) in serum

Summary

Introduction

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, treatable, and preventable disease, which is characterized by airflow limitation and persistent respiratory symptoms [1]. E curative effect of combined Chinese and Western medicine is remarkable for COPD. By 2060, there may be over 5.4 million deaths annually from COPD and related conditions [2], and the prevalence of COPD is expected to rise over the 40 years [5]. It shows that the combination treatment has advantages in decreasing the frequency of acute exacerbation, improving lung function, relieving clinical symptoms, improving exercise endurance, and improving quality of life in multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trials [6, 7]. The structure of the intestinal microbiota during COPD stabilization and acute exacerbation has not been defined

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion