Qingfei Tongluo formula attenuated pulmonary inflammation and embolism in mycoplasma pneumonia mice

Abstract Background Qingfei Tongluo formular (QT) is a homemade agent for the Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) treatment developed by pediatrics of Shanghai Longhua hospital, which combining with AZM(azithromycin) has better clinical curative effect. This study aims at exploring the chemical components and clarifying the possible mechanism involved in. Methods LC-MS was used for chemical analysis. The mycoplasma pneumoniae infected mice were treated with AZM and QT (46.25 and 92.5 mg/g) for 3 days. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and monocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by haemacytometer. IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β and IL-13 in BALF were identified by ELISA assay. HE staining was employed for histological examination. TLR4, COX-2 and NF-κB expressions were assessed by western blot.Student‘s t test was used to compared the differences between two groups, while one-way analysis of variance was used when more than two groups were compared. P < 0.05 was taken as statistical significance. Results 10 compounds were identified in QT. After QT treatment, PMNs and monocytes in BALF were reduced and release of inflammatory cytokines was also mediated. HE staining showed that QT effectively arbitrated the inflammation and embolism in lung tissue. QT also blocked the TLR4-NF-κB-COX-2 signaling. Conclusions QT showed favorable effect in MPP treatment by diminishing the inflammation symptoms and regulating the TLR4-NF-κB-COX-2 signaling, which could act as a new agent for MPP therapy.