Protective Effect of <i>Lonicera japonica</i> on PM_2.5-Induced Pulmonary Damage in BALB/c Mice via the TGF-β and NF-κB Pathway

• Main Authors: Hyo Lim Lee (Author), Jong Min Kim (Author), Min Ji Go (Author), Tae Yoon Kim (Author), Seung Gyum Joo (Author), Ju Hui Kim (Author), Han Su Lee (Author), Hyun-Jin Kim (Author), Ho Jin Heo (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2023-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3390/antiox12040968; 2076-3921
• Keywords: <i>Lonicera japonica</i>; PM_2.5; pulmonary disease; inflammation; fibrosis; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950
• Source: Antioxidants, Vol 12, Iss 4, p 968 (2023)

This study aimed to assess the protective effect of an extract of <i>Lonicera japonica</i> against particulate-matter (PM)_2.5-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. The compounds with physiological activity were identified as shanzhiside, secologanoside, loganic acid, chlorogenic acid, secologanic acid, secoxyloganin, quercetin pentoside, and dicaffeoyl quinic acids (DCQA), including 3,4-DCQA, 3,5-DCQA, 4,5-DCQA, and 1,4-DCQA using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS^E). The extract of <i>Lonicera japonica</i> reduced cell death, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and inflammation in A549 cells. The extract of <i>Lonicera japonica</i> decreased serum T cells, including CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, and total T helper 2 (Th2) cells, and immunoglobulins, including immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin E (IgE), in PM_2.5-induced BALB/c mice. The extract of <i>Lonicera japonica</i> protected the pulmonary antioxidant system by regulating superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, reduced glutathione (GSH) contents, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. In addition, it ameliorated mitochondrial function by regulating the production of ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and ATP contents. Moreover, the extract of <i>Lonicera japonica</i> exhibited a protective activity of apoptosis, fibrosis, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) via TGF-β and NF-κB signaling pathways in lung tissues. This study suggests that the extract of <i>Lonicera japonica</i> might be a potential material to improve PM_2.5-induced pulmonary inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis.